FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                             

March 18, 2010                                                                                  

Contact: Jenny Dyer

(615) 386-0045 

Frist Global Health Leaders Program Offers Funding for Student Service and Training Abroad

Nashville, Tenn. - Hope Through Healing Hands, a Nashville-based nonprofit organization chaired by former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, M.D., has committed to providing fellowships for four students in the coming year - two students at Vanderbilt School of Nursing, one student at the Vanderbilt School of Medicine, and one student at Meharry Medical College. These fellowships will provide health service and training in underserved communities for one semester during the 2010-2011 academic year. This is the second annual year of a partnership with Vanderbilt University and Meharry Medical College for this program.

"Last year was a successful year with the students from both Vanderbilt and Meharry Medical College," said Frist.  "In terms of patients who were seen and community health workers who were trained, the students did an outstanding job, and I am sure we will see similar positive results this year as well. We are excited for these new Global Health Leaders and for their work in the coming year."

Sten H. Vermund, M.D., Ph.D, Director of the Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health notes, "The Frist Global Health Leaders program fills an important gap in opportunity for Vanderbilt and Meharry medical students and Vanderbilt nursing students, namely the opportunity to work overseas in a focused service capacity."

The students selected this year will be traveling to Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Africa. They will bolster health services in clinics needing additional support, and they will be offering training to local community health workers with a goal toward sustainable health care. 

Hope through Healing Hands is a 501(c)3 promoting improved quality of life for communities around the world using health as a currency for peace.

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  www.hopethroughhealinghands.org