The Ruth and Vernon Taylor fellowshiP PROGRAM -

Applications due February 22, 2012
(updated 2/2/12)

Almost 50 years ago, Ruth and Vernon Taylor established the Ruth and Vernon Taylor Fellowship at Macalester College. This endowment has supported hundreds of students to explore health care professions over the summer. The Taylor Fellowship Program offers two types of summer fellowships: the Taylor Shadowing Fellowship is designed to allow students to explore the work of health care professionals in clinical settings and the Taylor Public Health Fellowship allows students to work within the field of public health.

The Taylor Shadowing Fellowship provides a stipend to enable students to shadow health care professionals (e.g., medical doctors, nurses, midwives, veterinarians, dentists, physical therapists, etc.) in a clinical setting for 100 hours. Students are encouraged to explore the work of multiple professionals in various settings to compare questions of interest to them personally as they discern whether a career in health care is right for them. Students may shadow health care practitioners in any location in the world. Assistance is provided to establish contact with mentors.

The Taylor Public Health Fellowship provides a stipend to cover 9-10 weeks of half-time work in a public health environment. Students may secure additional funding from other sources to extend the hours or duration of their work. Assistance is provided to find a site and supervisor/mentor or a student may pursue work or an agency on their own. Read more here about some of the 2010 Taylor Public Health Fellows' experiences.

To apply for the Taylor Shadowing Fellowship:
1. Fill out the Application Cover Sheet for the Taylor Fellowships.

2. Write a cover letter to the Taylor Shadowing Fellowship Selection Committee that describes your schooling, interests and career goals, and answers the following questions:
i. What are you interested in exploring within health professions? This should lay the groundwork for comparisons you wish to make in your fellowship experience. For example, some students wish to explore the differences between the work of a physician and a dentist. Some may want to compare urban and rural health care settings. Some may wish to compare the work of a physician in their home town with that of a physician in the Twin Cities. Take time to ponder your own interests and where you are at in your discernment process. The committee wants to see that you are prepared to make the most of your fellowship experience.
ii. Given that there are always more applicants than available fellowship support, discuss how this fellowship will help you in your discernment process. That is, how will this help you to explore your areas of interest and make a real difference for you? Describe what you hope to gain insight into and learn. Include your major(s), minor(s), concentration and anticipated graduated date.

3. In your letter, provide the names of the two people you have asked to provide letters of recommendation. One or both may be faculty members, but least one person should be able to speak to your academic strengths and interests. Recommendations may either be in standard letter format or the Taylor Fellowship Recommendation Form may be used.

4. Download a copy of your academic transcript. Confirm that it is in a read-able format.

To apply for the Taylor Public Health Fellowship:
1. Fill out the Application Cover Sheet for the Taylor Fellowships.

2. Write a cover letter to the Taylor Public Health Fellowship Selection Committee that describes your schooling, interests and career goals, and answers the following questions:
i. What are you interested in exploring within public health? This should include ideas (or contacts if you have them) for the types of areas in public health or agencies that you are interested in for your fellowship. The committee wants to understand your interest areas within the huge field of public health and to see that you understand how the field is organized or agencies work. This enables the committee to see that you are prepared to make the most of your fellowship experience. You do not need to have a site or mentor firmly lined up at the time of application, although preference is given to proposals that have been more thoroughly developed.
ii. Given that there are always more applicants than available fellowship support, discuss how this fellowship will help you gain experience in your area of interest. That is, how will this help you to explore your areas of interest and make a real difference for you? Describe what you hope to gain insight into and learn. Include your major(s), minor(s), concentration and anticipated graduated date. How has your coursework prepared you for the work you'd like to do?

3. In your letter, provide the names of the two people you have asked to provide letters of recommendation. One or both may be faculty members, but least one person should be able to speak to your academic strengths and interests. Recommendations may either be in letter format or the Taylor Fellowship Recommendation Form may be used.

4. Download a copy of your academic transcript. Confirm that it is in a read-able format.

Questions?
If you have questions about the fellowships or application process, contact Liz Jansen, Taylor Fellowship Program Director (jansen@macalester.edu) or sign up on the sheet on her office door (220 OlinRice) for an appointment to meet. Send your application materials to Patty Byrne Pfalz electronically (pfalz@macalester.edu) no later than noon on the due date. Notifications will be made by mid-March.

To learn more about the Taylor Fellowship experience, interested individuals may contact students who completed Taylor fellowships in 2011. These students completed shadowing fellowships: Nathan Coppersmith, Rosie Glenn-Finer, Emily Prazak, Katie Soo, Zhenmei Zhang, Richard Liang, Jessica Vaughan, Chioma Chukwumah, Waruiru Mburu, Mariah Blegen.

These students completed public health fellowships in 2011: Molly Frean, Chloe Souza, Emma Swinford, Sydney Fencl, Landy Kus.