National University of Health Sciences’ naturopathic medicine (ND) student Diana Dao was awarded the Health and Medicine Policy Research Group’s prestigious Schweitzer Fellowship for 2025-2026.
The Schweitzer Fellowship, founded in 1996 in Chicago, supports graduate students in the fields of health and human services to address health inequities through year-long community projects. Each year, 26 fellows design initiatives tackling social determinants of health, such as violence prevention, and health education in underserved populations. Fellows dedicate over 200 service hours, receive mentorship and collaborate across disciplines, fostering leadership and community impact.
Dao notes that this experience will give her invaluable resources that guide her through making public health initiatives effective and sustainable. She says, “Being awarded the Schweitzer Fellowship is an incredible honor, and I feel deeply grateful to be part of something special and impactful. It’s inspiring to be surrounded by such a diverse and talented group of individuals; medical doctors, public health professionals, social service workers and future leaders who all bring unique perspectives and life experiences to the table.”
Her service project will focus on promoting nutritional health education through interactive workshops that encourage participants to make healthy food choices and lower their risk of chronic disease. Her ultimate goal is to advance health equity through education and empowerment, and make nutrition simple, practical and culturally relevant by meeting people where they are.
“Growing up in a low-income household with food insecurity, I saw firsthand how poverty and limited access to health information shaped our well-being. These experiences, combined with my background in public health and naturopathic medicine, solidified my passion for addressing systemic health inequities,” Dao said. “Strengthening food literacy is a vital step toward creating access and empowering individuals to take control of their wellness. That understanding shaped my project, which focuses on improving nutrition health literacy in underserved communities who use food pantry staples by providing interactive workshops on food education.”
Upon completing her fellowship year, she will earn the title of “Fellow for Life” becoming part of an interdisciplinary network of professionals dedicated to serving underserved communities. Dao intends to stay actively engaged with this network and persist in her advocacy for health equity. Following graduation, Dao plans to complete a two-year residency at an integrative clinic that fosters interdisciplinary collaboration. As a California native, she hopes to eventually return to her home state and open her own practice.
Dao expresses, “It’s truly extraordinary to be part of such a passionate, mission-aligned group of individuals committed to bringing health equity. This fellowship not only allows me to grow as a future doctor but also as a collaborator, educator and advocate.”
Diana is the sixth NUHS recipient and third naturopathic medicine student to be awarded the fellowship after Tina Barrett, Rachel Francis, Rameda Lee, Phylicia Hammonds and Dana Madigan.
