Schweitzer Fellow for Life

Pharm.D. Student Jag Maturi Honored as 'Fellow for Life' by Houston-Galveston Schweitzer Fellowship for Volunteer Project at Nonprofit Houston Clinic

UH College of Pharmacy P3 Pharm.D. student Jag Maturi was one of two UH students recently recognized as "Fellows for Life" by the Houston-Galveston Schweitzer Fellowship, one of 12 U.S. chapters of the international organization founded to continue the efforts of famed humanitarian and physician Dr. Albert Schweitzer.

Newly recognized Albert Schweitzer Fellows for Life Jag Maturi (UHCOP) and Antonia Caliboso (UH Graduate College of Social Work) join former astronaut and fellow Houston Cougar Bernard A. Harris Jr., M.D., in displaying their Cougar pride at the 2014 Houston-Galveston Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Humanitarian Award Ceremony.

In development for more than a year, Maturi’s service project involved working most Saturdays at the nonprofit Indian Doctors Charity Clinic in southwest Houston. Maturi educated and counseled patients on their chronic disease states, especially diabetes management, and made pharmaceutical substitution recommendations to physicians.

"It was a phenomenal experience, especially the interaction with so many different health professions and disciplines," Maturi said. "Although I had great mentors
and peers from whom I could seek advice and guidance, I don't think I fully appreciated the difficulties and challenges of taking on a major project like this on my own. It definitely made me more aware of the need to think about how to take a project from being viable to sustainable." 

Santhi Masilimani, Pharm.D., CDE, MBA, clinical assistant professor and director of Ambulatory Based APPEs, served as Maturi's project mentor.

"I think he learned a lot about the financial aspects of pharmacy, ambulatory clinics and healthcare in general," Masilamani said. "As pharmacists, our recommendations can make a significant impact on the cost of medications for the patients, which consequently can make a significant impact on patient adherence and imrpoved outcomes." 

Maturi was among the 2013-14 Fellows honored at the organization's Humanitarian Award Ceremony April 17 at which fellow Houston Cougar and former astronaut Bernard A. Harris Jr., M.D., was recognized as the chapter’s 2014 Humanitarian of the Year Award recipient. The first African-American to perform a spacewalk, Harris serves as CEO & Managing Partner of Houston-based venture capital firm Vesalius Ventures Inc. and president of the nonprofit Harris Foundation. His academic credentials include a bachelor’s degree in Biology from UH and an MBA degree from UH-Clear Lake.