On April 13, 2024, at the 2024 Celebration of Service, the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship (ASF) of Alabama honored Dr. Lisa Gurley of Samford University’s Moffett and Sanders School of Nursing and Dr. Lemeshia Chambers of UAB’s Live HealthSmart Alabama with the 2024 Outstanding Academic Mentor and Outstanding Community Site Mentor awards, respectively. These awards, sponsored by the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), celebrate the significant contributions of these mentors to the ASF and their mentees. CCTS Engagement of Communities Program Director, Clifford Kennon was on hand to present the awards to the outstanding mentors for their achievements.

Engagement of Communities Program Director, Clifford Kennon, presented the CCTS-sponsored "Outstanding Academic Mentor" award to Dr. Lisa GurleyDr. Orlando Guitierrez, CCTS Co-Director, expressed his enthusiasm about the role of the awards in enhancing health equity and supporting career development in the health sciences. “The Center for Clinical and Translational Science is thrilled to recognize the immense value that Schweitzer Fellowship mentors provide to our scientific community through these two awardees. The CCTS seeks to elevate health equity by reducing the disproportionate burden of chronic diseases and the impact of adverse social determinants of health affecting the region. A critical lever for accomplishing this mission is supporting individuals who are more established in their careers--with expertise and experience to share--to mentor the next generation of translational scientists. This award was a natural way for us to demonstrate our commitment to supporting effective mentorship, particularly in a program that also mirrors other values our Center strives towards, such as community engagement, cross-disciplinary training, as well as leadership."

The awards underscore the effective collaboration between academic institutions and community initiatives, which is foundational to both the CCTS’s and ASF’s mission. This partnership fosters a culture of service and leadership among healthcare professionals, directly impacting health outcomes in the community. By sponsoring these awards, CCTS reinforces its commitment to community engagement, cross-disciplinary training, and leadership in health science. This support not only advances CCTS’s mission but also strengthens the broader community it serves, enhancing the mentorship and development of future translational scientists.

About The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship of Alabama
The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship (ASF) of Alabama is developing the next generation of healthcare professionals to serve and empower vulnerable people to live healthier lives and create healthier communities in Alabama. Since 2016, ASF of Alabama has trained 125 students who have partnered with over 77 community organizations to provide approximately 26,000 hours of service at a value of more than $650,000 to Alabama’s most vulnerable groups. Nationally, more than 4,000 U.S. Schweitzer Fellows have delivered nearly 750,000 hours of service to individuals and communities in need. Through its intensive one-year Fellowship program and the ongoing work of its 4,000+ Fellow for Life alumni, ASF perpetuates the legacy of physician-humanitarian and Nobel Peace laureate Dr. Albert Schweitzer.

About the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS)
Established in 2008, the CCTS has been at the forefront of innovative research aimed at reducing the burden of cardiometabolic, vascular, and cancer-related diseases that disproportionately affect our region. As the only Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) in Alabama, we are committed to fostering collaborative efforts that transcend institutional boundaries. Our Center’s regional Partner Network, ‒ consisting of 11 esteemed academic health centers, research institutes, and universities across Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana ‒ serves as the cornerstone of our collaborative endeavors. This Network has provided a unique platform for researchers to engage in transdisciplinary research, ultimately driving our vision, mission, and aims.