• Learn about community-driven programming, how it works, and how it contributes to a community's well-being.

• Live and work at the Comprehensive Rural Health Project, Jamkhed, India, for almost one year.

• Work with one of the best health and development projects in the world.

• Learn about the priority health care areas addressed: community-based primary care, women's health, under-fives care, family planning, control of chronic illnesses, prevention of infectious diseases, and integrated rural development.

• Work on a project, depending on current CRHP activities and your interests.

In 2001, the Comprehensive Rural Health Project, together with JSI Research and Training and the American Medical Student Association (AMSA), founded the Mabelle Arole Fellowship in honor of Dr. Mabelle Arole who passed away in 1999. The fellowship is named in memory of her dedication to the community and her wisdom to work with its members to determine what must be done and how to achieve improved health and sustainable grassroots development. Read more about Mabelle and her lasting contributions by visiting CRHP's remembrance page (follow this link).

Eligibility for this fellowship is open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents who have completed or will be completing a BA or BS degree in an accredited undergraduate institution prior to the start of the fellowship period. The applicant must secure admission to a U.S. medical school and be willing to defer for a period of one year prior to departing for India. An application along with essays and all supporting documentation must be submitted before the deadline (January XX, 2011) to John Snow Research and Training. Short listed applicants must also be willing and able to appear for an interview at the annual AMSA convention at their own expense (Washington, DC on March 12, 2011).

The Mabelle Arole Fellow will live, work, and learn in Jamkhed, India for 10 months. During that time, s/he will have experience in the hospital (in-patient, out-patient and operating theater) and in the field. Fellows may also choose or are assigned to work on a project, depending on current CRHP activities and needs and the fellow’s own interests.

The year begins with a 2-month course on community-based primary health care (CBPHC) and development, with about 20 participants from India and other countries, most of who are working in health and development programs. Course topics include principles and practices of CBPHC, communicable and non-communicable diseases, project management, leadership, personal development, and much more. The training is participatory, with plenty of interaction among participants and resource persons. Much of the training is facilitated by staff and local village volunteers. CRHP runs a well-equipped resource center with adequate technology (i.e. computers, projectors, internet access) and a good reference library on health and development as well as other topics.

The fellow will live and work on the CRHP compound, which includes the hospital, administration office, training institute, and staff housing. Lodging is simple and basic (single or double room with a private or shared bathroom with Western-style toilet). There is a mess hall, which provides typical Indian meals. The fellow will stay in India for almost one year, at Jamkhed for 10 months and the opportunity to travel for one month (his/her own plans and expenses). The fellow will be paid a stipend of USD$8000 in quarterly payments. This stipend will cover housing, living expenses, medical insurance and travel, including airfare to and from India.

In order to adapt to living at CRHP, you should be flexible, open, able to adapt appropriately to other cultures (including food), and interested in learning from others, especially village people. More information and answers to frequently asked question may be obtained by visiting our FAQ page. We would also encourage prospective applicants to view two of our documentaries, Grassroots and Open My Eyes, available on this website.

Former Fellows

2002-2003: Jennifer Wipperman (Madison, Wisconsin) [Read about Jennifer's experience]                             Jenny graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in May 2002 with a double major of Biology and Sociology. She did considerable volunteer work at the University - tutoring international students and getting involved in community-based activities. Jenny made several service trips to countries like Mexico and the Dominican Republic. She entered the University of Wisconsin Medical School in the fall of 2003.

2003-2004: Shannon Straszewski (Madison, Wisconsin) [Read about Shannon's experience]                      Shannon was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Madison in May 2003 having majored in medical microbiology and immunology. While an undergraduate she founded a group called HELP (Health Education and Leadership Program) which provided CPR training, conducted exercise sessions for the elderly and organized seminars on sexually transmitted diseases. She began medical studies at the University for Wisconsin in Fall 2004.

2004-2005: Pranathi Lingam (Houston, Texas)                                                                                                        Pranathi was a psychology and philosophy major at the University of Alabama at Birmingham where she graduated in May 2004. She volunteered as a rape response counselor and a literacy tutor at the Literacy Council of Birmingham, where she instructed recovering drug addicts. She spent time in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, active in health and education efforts and the empowerment of women. She joined the University of Alabama Medical School (Birmingham) in September 2005.

2005-2006: Alexander Kaysin (Brooklyn, New York) [Read about Alex's experience] [ 275kb]                       Alex completed his undergraduate degree in Anthropology at Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, in June 2005. As an undergraduate, he was active with the HEAT (Health & Education Alternatives for Teens) Program, working with inner city  youth living with HIV/AIDS. He also volunteered for four years as a Russian language interpreter at the Coney Island Hospital emergency room. At Jamkhed, Alex devoted a lot of time and energy developing a low-cost water filtration system which is currently being field tested in project villages. He entered SUNY Downstate College of Medicine in August 2006. Alex continues to work with CRHP in various capacities and has recently made a return visit.

2006-2007: Amy Romer (California) [Read about Amy's experience] [ 538kb]                                            Amy majored in Biology at Occidental College outside Los Angeles and graduated in May 2006. She became involved at Pet-Assisted Wellness program and volunteered in the emergency department at the Glendale Hospital. Amy studied for a semester in Costa Rica where she became very interested and involved in ecological and conservation issues. She has always been concerned about women's health issues. She researched perinatal mortality while at Jamkhed and wrote-up her findings. She entered Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago after returning from India.

2007-2008: Bernadine Han (San Francisco, California) [Read about Bernie's experience][ 41.4kb]                    Bernie concentrated in Social Anthropology at Harvard College. During college she worked at a MCH center in Ghana and with Project HEALTH (Helping Empower, Advocate and Lead Through Health) to improve the health of pediatric patients from low-income families. After graduation she taught and completed her post-baccalaureate pre-medical program in California. She has been accepted at the joint University of California, Berkeley-University of California, San Francisco medical school which she will be attending after returning from Jamkhed in the fall of 2008.

2008-2009: Jeffrey Holzberg (Atlanta, Georgia) [Follow Jeff's experience in India at jeffisinindia.blogspot.com] 
Jeff graduated cum laude from Tufts University.  He has plans to attend Emory Medical School when he returns from India.  While an undergraduate, Jeff worked in clinics and hospitals in Ghana as well as Mexico and was a research assistant at the CDC in Atlanta.  After college, he was site coordinator for the National Student Partnership in the Bronx, NY where he managed an office with college students who worked with low-income community members on housing, employment and health care.   

2009-2010: Edgar Woznica (Oak Park, IL) [Read about Edgar's experience][ 41.4kb]                               Edgar graduated from Brown University with a degree in Development Studies. At Jamkhed, he carried out research on mental health and trained the Village Health Workers on how to diagnose and deal with mental health issues. In addition, Edgar explored the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes among the project population. Edgar plans to attend Brown University Medical School but will be spending this coming year in Antarctica conducting research at Palmer Station.