The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship announces that Dr. Beat Steiner, the Program Director for Medical Student programs in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, was honored with the Schweitzer Leadership Award from the North Carolina chapter of The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship. Steiner was recognized for his service to vulnerable people, particularly those living with severe mental illness and substance abuse.

Steiner received his award at the North Carolina Albert Schweitzer Fellowship program’s annual Celebration of Service luncheon, held Saturday, April 1 at Carolina Country Club.

“Dr. Steiner shares much in common with Dr. Schweitzer,” said Dr. Trisha White, Program Chair of the North Carolina Schweitzer Fellowship program. “They are both from the same region of the world. Both are brilliant men deeply anchored in personal ideals of service that have guided their life’s work with vulnerable populations. Both have great impact in caring for individuals, overcoming health care barriers with systems and inspiring others to lives of service.”

“We are also incredibly grateful for Dr. Steiner’s generous mentorship of our Schweitzer Fellows who initially launched, and then expanded, a free dental clinic to serve his patients at Wakebrook,” said Barbara Heffner, Program Director of the North Carolina Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Program.

In addition to honoring to Dr. Steiner, the Celebration of Service also recognized the service of the graduating 2016-2017 Fellowship class, and the incoming 2017-2018 class of Fellows were welcomed to the program.

The North Carolina Albert Schweitzer Fellows Program is part of The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship and one of 16 Schweitzer Fellowship programs throughout the United States and in Lambaréné, Gabon, at the site of The Albert Schweitzer Hospital. Fellows are graduate students who commit to a year of service during which they learn effective strategies and leadership skills to address the social factors that impact health. In doing so, they model their service after the life example set by pioneering physician-humanitarian and Nobel Peace Laureate Dr. Albert Schweitzer, who was one of the 20th century’s most admired global citizens.