Made possible by a generous grant from the Chia Family Foundation, the Chia Family Health Fellowship Program seeks to improve the general health and health education of the people of Hunan through public outreach programs and by promoting the role of Chinese women in the health professions. The Fellowship gives special emphasis to health projects that are concerned with the prevention and management of infectious and chronic diseases in the communities, and that focus on health issues faced by the vulnerable or overlooked populations in Hunan. 

 

Two fellowships will be awarded for 2009. Each fellowship has two components: a semester at Yale University followed by project implementation in Changsha. In the fall, each Fellow will have the opportunity to study and conduct research for one semester at Yale under the guidance of Yale faculty before returning to China to complete the project. At the conclusion of the semester at Yale, each Fellow will submit an interim report to Yale-China and her faculty mentor summarizing her work at Yale and submit an application to the Yale University Institutional Review Board for the proposed project activities in China.

 

Upon returning to China, Fellows will complete any field research necessary and conduct the implementation phase of their projects by sharing their research findings and problem-solving strategies with colleagues and carrying out educational outreach programs.

The fellowship gives special emphasis to health projects that are concerned with the prevention and management of infectious and chronic diseases in the communities, and that focus on health issues faced by the vulnerable or overlooked populations in Hunan. Proposed projects will be judged upon their academic merits and topic, as well as applicants’ likelihood to continue to work in the priority area, as listed above, beyond the completion of the Fellowship. 

 

Fellowship candidates will be reviewed and selected in October 2008 by a committee composed of representatives of the Yale-China Association and the Xiangya School of Medicine.  Following a review of proposals submitted by the candidates, the selection committee will invite selected candidates for interviews at Xiangya between October 13-17, 2008. The recipients of the fellowships will be announced later in 2008.

 

Selection will be based on the following criteria:

 

4.    The availability of an appropriate Yale faculty mentor.

5.    The likelihood that the proposed work will continue upon return, including support from superiors.

6.    The candidate’s potential to influence health practice and policy in Hunan.

7.    The candidate’s commitment to community service and potential to continue to work in the same priority areas as outlined by the program.

8.    The candidate’s English ability. (Candidates are expected to be able to understand English academic lectures, read academic journals, and to carry on conversations about their work.) 

In accordance with the desires of the donor, only women working in the fields of public health and nursing in Hunan province are eligible to apply for the program. Proposed projects should be focused on infectious and chronic disease prevention, management, and self-care in the community. In addition, special emphasis will be given to projects that address health problems faced by the disadvantaged or overlooked populations.

 

 

Application forms and instructions are available at the International Cooperation Office of the Xiangya School of Medicine (see below for contact person for Xiangya, Dr. Wu Zhigang) and online at www.yalechina.org. The selection of 2009 fellowship recipients will be made in October of 2008, which will allow new Fellows ample time to prepare for their studies at Yale the following fall, and to make arrangements with their superiors for completing their projects when they return to China. 

 

Applications are due at both Xiangya and Yale-China by Tuesday, September 30^th, 2008. Please contact Dr. Wu Zhigang at Central South University International Cooperation Office or the Yale-China Association if you have further questions.