Dezirae Cunningham, a second-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) student at Samford University's McWhorter School of Pharmacy, has been selected as a 2026-27 Albert Schweitzer Fellow. Through the fellowship, she will lead a community-based project focused on increasing vaccination awareness and confidence among young adults ages 18-35 in Jefferson County.
The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship of Alabama brings together graduate and professional students to develop projects that address unmet health needs while strengthening their leadership and service. Cunningham's project will begin by assessing community perceptions through surveys and educational outreach before implementing culturally responsive health education designed to address vaccine hesitancy and improve preventive health behaviors.
“I was encouraged to pursue this fellowship because of my passion for health equity and community engagement,” Cunningham said. “Through my work in public health and clinical research, I’ve seen how gaps in access, trust, and education can directly impact health outcomes. This fellowship gives me the opportunity to combine my pharmacy training with community advocacy to create sustainable change.”
Before enrolling at Samford to pursue her PharmD, Cunningham earned a Master of Science in Comparative Biomedical Sciences from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University of Alabama. She also worked as a clinical research coordinator supporting oncology clinical trials. Together, those academic and professional experiences strengthened her interests in public health and research and ultimately led her to pursue a career in pharmacy.
At McWhorter, Cunningham has built on that foundation through the PharmD curriculum, leadership opportunities, faculty mentorship and community engagement.
“My experience at Samford has helped me grow as both a future pharmacist and a community leader,” Cunningham said. “Through the PharmD curriculum, leadership opportunities, faculty mentorship, and community engagement, I have strengthened my ability to apply clinical knowledge to real-world health challenges.”
After earning her PharmD, Cunningham plans to seek a pharmaceutical industry fellowship and hopes to continue incorporating public health, research and community advocacy into her career.
Georges Adunlin, associate professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical, Social and Administrative Sciences , will serve as Cunningham's mentor throughout the fellowship.
“Dezirae's selection as an Albert Schweitzer Fellow reflects her passion for serving others and her commitment to advancing public health through education,” Adunlin said. “By helping individuals and communities better understand vaccines and make informed health decisions, she is addressing a critical need while exemplifying the impact pharmacists can have beyond the traditional healthcare setting.”
Adunlin said Cunningham is an emerging leader whose “compassion, dedication, and vision will undoubtedly shape the future of the pharmacy profession.”
