Enhancing Opportunities for Graduate and Professional Students to Engage in Community Outreach and Service

This session will highlight opportunities for graduate and professional students from Ohio State and Ohio University to engage in community outreach and service learning through participation in the Columbus-Athens Schweitzer Fellows Program. Launched in 2010, the program is a consortium comprised of 11 colleges at Ohio State, two colleges at Ohio University, OhioHealth, and Nationwide Children's Hospital. The Ohio State College of Medicine supports the co-directors through AHEC funding. The Ohio State Office of Outreach and Engagement supports for our annual Celebration of Service to honor the fellows. The consortium model fuels the program with funding, advisory board members, and potential fellows. In 2017-2018, a cohort of nine fellows provided more than 1,800 hours of community service to the central Ohio and Athens areas. Our goal is to expand the program.AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Elizabeth Fitzgerald, associate professor of clinical nursing and co-program director, Columbus-Athens Schweitzer Fellows Program, Ohio State College of Nursing, fitzgerald.118@osu.edu (Corresponding Author); Maria Gallo, associate professor, Ohio State College of Public HealthWe will highlight opportunities for graduate and professional students from Ohio State and Ohio University to engage in community outreach and service learning in the Columbus-Athens Schweitzer Fellows Program