This year’s cohort is the largest in ASF program history.The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship of Alabama has announced the incoming 2026-27 fellows class, which includes 20 students from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
The Alabama Schweitzer Chapter was founded in 2015 and joined a national network of Albert Schweitzer Fellowship chapters across the United States. ASF chapters are dedicated to improving the health of vulnerable people by developing a corps of emerging professionals who enter the workforce with the skills and commitment necessary to address unmet health needs.
“We are thrilled to welcome the largest cohort of fellows in Albert Schweitzer Fellowship of Alabama’s history. This year’s applicant pool was truly exceptional — filled with passionate, thoughtful and deeply committed emerging professionals — making the selection process both inspiring and incredibly difficult,” said Kimberly Eaton, executive director of ASF of Alabama. “These fellows have already demonstrated remarkable initiative, thoughtfully refining their project ideas and identifying meaningful ways to serve our communities. I am confident they will carry forward the Schweitzer legacy of service and leadership, and we look forward to seeing the impact they will create across Alabama in the months ahead.”
The fellows from UAB include:
Marnix. E Heersink School of Medicine
- Gitanjali Alapati
- Caroline Bald
- Kailand-Ascia Brown
- Abbie Kleckley
- Rabab Meghani
- Gift Nnamdi
- Navaneeth Shibu
- Holly Yazdi
- Carter Cooper
- Dhanvi Kantamneni
- Carson Kim
School of Education and Human Sciences
- Shallom Enogela
- Christopher Colvin
- Dylan Carpenter
- Jocelyn McAlpine
- LaQuadria Robinson
- MaKayla Armstrong
- Deeksha Hanumanula, Honors College
- Srushti Talluri, Honors College
- Maddie Thigpen
Fellows will spend the next 15 months immersed in community public health projects. Their projects will improve the health and social well-being of their populations of choice throughout the state while simultaneously strengthening their leadership skills. In doing so, they will continue the legacy of the Fellowship’s namesake, the famed physician-humanitarian Albert Schweitzer.
ASF Fellows work closely under the guidance of community site partners and academic mentors throughout the project period. ASF will announce in summer 2026 the specific projects and community site partners of the newest class of fellows. It is anticipated the 25 Alabama Schweitzer Fellows will be joined by approximately 200 other 2026-27 national Schweitzer Fellows working at program sites across the United States. Upon completion of their Fellowship year, the 2026-27 Schweitzer Fellows will become Schweitzer Fellows for Life, joining an active network of Schweitzer alumni continuing their commitment to improving the public health of underserved communities throughout their careers.