Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Illinois student Joshua Eastham has been selected for the prestigious Schweitzer Fellowship, a program for graduate students who aspire to become lifelong leaders in service. Mr. Eastham joins a cohort of 30 exceptional students from 12 area universities who will initiate innovative year-long projects aimed at overcoming serious barriers to health in underserved Chicago communities.

For his project, Mr. Eastham will work to expand “Right from the Start,” a project which incorporates education about making healthy lifestyle choices and developing good health habits into the curriculum at J.R. Tibbott Elementary School in Bolingbrook. "In designing my project, I chose to implement an oral health education program for elementary students from underserved backgrounds," Mr. Eastham said. "I believe education is the first step to developing healthy habits and a healthy lifestyle."

Named in honor of humanitarian and Nobel laureate Albert Schweitzer, the Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows Program encourages students to "make their lives their argument" by helping address unmet health needs among vulnerable Chicago residents. In collaboration with existing clinics, schools, social service agencies, and other community organizations, each Schweitzer Fellow will provide 200 hours of direct service, separate from and in addition to their already demanding academic and clinical requirements.