Four learners chosen as Columbus-Athens Schweitzer Fellows to address social determinants of health
The Schweitzer Fellows Program supports and prepares emerging health-focused graduate and professional students in creating and conducting service projects. These innovative professionals include these efforts in their learning to address unmet community needs. This year, 10 learners from The Ohio State University and Ohio University are conducting one-year community service projects of at least 200 service hours.
On average, that’s almost four hours a week. Four chosen learners at The Ohio State University College of Medicine will partner with an existing community agency in the Columbus area, have direct client contact and receive both an academic and a community-based mentor. The fellows are:
- Ankit Annapareddy, who’s partnering with Franklin County Public Health and Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
- Zaynah Awethe and Salma Shire, who are partnering with Somali Community Link
- Gabe Lee, who’s partnering with Columbus Free Clinic and the Rainbow Clinic
Ankit Annapareddy, MD Class of 2027
Annapareddy’s community service project with Franklin County Public Health and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission aims to increase awareness of air quality on health throughout the county, and especially for populations with disparities that expose them to poorer air quality. He’ll create educational materials for communities that include local data on air quality instead of the regional data that’s currently available.
“I’ll be working with the organizations and households to implement local air quality sensors that provide personalized, public access to key information,” Annapareddy says. “I hope this enables the community to take charge of an issue with significant impacts on their health that will continue to be more pressing in the coming years.”
Zaynah Awethe, MD Class of 2027 and Salma Shire, MD Class of 2027
Awethe and Shire are partnering with the Somali Community Link and their community liaisons to understand the prevalence of skin-lightening practices. Globally, this industry is a massive multi-billion-dollar market, deeply rooted in societal pressures and colorism. Many women in our communities turn to these unregulated products, which are often imported and sold in local shops, unaware of the harmful chemicals like hydroquinone and mercury they contain.
Traditionally, this issue has been shrouded in silence, but through focus groups and community dialogues, Awethe and Shire are uncovering these risks and sparking essential conversations.
“Our initiative also focuses on prevention, particularly among younger women, addressing self-esteem and promoting healthier, more informed choices,” Awethe and Shire say. “And foster a broader community dialogue on this critical issue.”
Gabe Lee, MD Class of 2027
Lee is partnering with the Columbus Free Clinic (CFC) and the Rainbow Clinic to support the distribution of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) medication that patients can take to reduce their risk of contracting HIV by over 99%. He is also working to establish a new patient navigator program to address issues with follow up and patient retention and partnering with Kaleidoscope Youth Center to deliver sexual education seminars to LGBTQIA2+ identifying youth and young adults.
Lee has been a CFC volunteer since 2020 as an undergraduate student and remains committed to providing a safe community space for individuals of any background to come to receive healthcare that is free of judgement, free of questions, and most importantly, free of cost.
“It is a privilege to make long-term relationships with patients that frequent our clinic and be a part of their story,” Lee says. “These projects aim to bridge gaps in HIV/AIDs and PrEP care for uninsured and underinsured patients to contribute to ending the HIV epidemic.”
His work connecting patients to follow-up care and building these relationships are just some of the reasons Lee values the work he does at the clinic.
At the fellowship’s completion, medical students possess the skills needed to address the important needs of underserved communities in the Columbus area. Fellows are also trained to become emerging professional leaders in public service.
