The Center for Haitian Studies Health Fellows Program 2026

In 2026, CHS will launch the inaugural Health Fellows Program, offering four 6-month fellowships for students in research and health management. Supervised by CHS senior leadership, these fellowships offer students an opportunity to support CHS’s mission to advance equitable healthcare access while advancing their training and education. Fellows will engage as active members of the CHS team for the duration of the fellowship, participate in monthly research seminars and receive mentoring and supervision from CHS medical and research leadership.

Application process:

To apply, candidates should complete the application form on this page and e-mail their CV to Rachel.Belt@centerforhaitianstudies.org. Applications close on 11:59pm on January 30, 2026. Interviews are scheduled for mid-February; selections will be announced March 1, 2026. Fellowships run from April 1 to October 1, 2026, with accommodations provided to ensure alignment to degree project requirements.

Requirements:

  • Applicants must be enrolled in a degree program at the graduate level. There is
    no requirement on the type of degree.

  • Students may only apply to one of the four fellowships.

  • Students are expected to commit 5 hours/week to fellowship projects.

  • Haitian and Haitian-American students are encouraged to apply

  • Willingness to receive a background check before commencing work and
    undertake data privacy training, if required.

  • If you do not meet these requirements but would like to be in touch for future
    opportunities, please send your CV to Rachel.Belt@centerforhaitianstudies.org.

2026 Health Fellowships

Please indicate the preferred fellowship topic on the application form.

1. Cervical cancer prevention research and service mapping

Supervision: Rachel Belt, Dr. Lydia Fein, Dr. Stephen Symes, Dr. Nadege Jacques, Dr.
Rimsky Denis

The HPV vaccine and regular cervical screenings are effective prevention tools
currently under-utilized and hard-to-access for the communities served by CHS. A
mixed-methods research (focus group discussions and surveys) on cervical cancer is
planned for 2026. The research fellow will support the literature review for the
development of study protocols and perform a mapping of available service provision.

Key outcomes: Development of mapping of service provision for the HPV vaccine and
cervical cancer screenings and research support.

2. Review of literature on Haitian communities in South Florida and
development of reference library

Supervision: Dr. Nadege Jacques, Rachel Belt, Dr. Rimsky Denis

CHS has commenced a five-year research strategy focused on priority health conditions
affecting the Haitian population in South Florida. To support ongoing grant-writing and
research activities, the fellow will perform a review of literature specific to Haitian
communities in South Florida. The review will result in a publication and a reference
library available to CHS staff to support clinical decision-making and research.

Key outcome: Literature review publication and library of articles for use by medical
leads at CHS.

3. Strengthening the pharmacy and supply chain at the Center for Haitian
Studies

Supervision: Dr. Rimsky Denis, Rachel Belt

Work directly with senior leadership at CHS to optimize the inventory tracking system.
This includes an assessment of key weaknesses in current pharmacy and supply
management, developing recommendations for improvement and potentially, options for
in-kind donations for priority conditions.

Key outcome: Improve the operations of the CHS pharmacy and develop a proposed
model for the extension of pharmacy provision at community-based healthcare
provision.

4. Data management and improvement plan development

Supervision: Dr. Nadege Jacques, Dr. Stephen Symes, Rachel Belt, Dr. Rimsky Denis

The fellow will work with research leads at CHS to develop a data management and
improvement plan. This includes interviews with patient-facing data entry staff working
at CHS and the development of a report, a presentation of recommendations to
leadership and a workplan. The placement will be supervised by research and medical
leadership at CHS and provides a unique opportunity to engage with a newly launched
telemedicine program.

Key outcome: In collaboration with clinic leadership, develop a report and workplan to
improve data systems, data quality and completeness at CHS.

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