On Tuesday evening, March 29, two College of Allied Health OT students were named as inaugural Albert Schweitzer Fellows – they are among 11 local graduate students from universities in Tulsa to receive this honor. Meredith Wyatt and Paul Abbey, second-year master of occupational therapy students were selected from a large field of applicants for this prestigious fellowship. They will spend the next year learning to effectively address the social factors that impact health and will develop their leadership skills through an intensive service project. In doing so, they will perpetuate the legacy and philosophy of famed physician-humanitarian Dr. Albert Schweitzer, for whom their Fellowship is named.

Meredith and Paul will create and teach student leadership workshops and student-identified and directed civic projects to reduce truancy behaviors, increase conflict avoidance and resolution skills, and enhance well-being among vulnerable youth in the Carrera Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program at Union Public Schools.

Attached is a photo of the Schweitzer Fellows from OU-Tulsa (left to right): Olivia Shadid, medicine; Vanessa Garcia, public health; Paul Abbey, allied health occupational therapy; LaTasha Lucas, social work; and Meredith Wyatt, allied health occupational therapy. Tulsa is now the 14th location for the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship in the US, and the only one in Oklahoma.

“These Fellows are just one more example of the great work our students are doing in our community. Our future looks brighter and brighter.” - John H. Schumann, OU-Tulsa President

Photo credit: Aaron Anderson, OU-Tulsa