The Gregory Shapen Public Health Fellowship

Explore a Career in Public Health

The Gregory Shapen Public Health Fellowship is a summer fellowship intended to encourage undergraduate students from underrepresented populations (Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), low-income, LGBTQ+) to apply for employment and pursue careers in public health or community medicine. Howard Brown Health’s Department of Education will offer a community-based experience working in an LGBTQ+ focused health center to encourage professional development of future leaders and provide project management training in public health and the nonprofit sector. Howard Brown Health encourages applications from historically marginalized students who are interested in public health, research, and working in community health.

The Shapen Fellowship offers a unique opportunity for students to learn project management skills. Fellows propose three LGBTQ+ focused public health projects they’d like to explore. The program team pairs fellows with a Howard Brown mentor based on their interests and project feasibility. The fellows work with their mentor to develop one of these projects over the course of 10 weeks, culminating in an end of summer presentation. Fellows will also be provided opportunities to learn about community health centers and how Howard Brown approaches its mission of eliminating healthcare disparities experienced by LGBTQ+ people.

Up to six (6) students are selected annually to be Shapen Fellows. Fellows are paid $20/hr and can work up to 30 hrs a week for the 10 weeks. The fellowship is open to any undergraduate student currently enrolled in Spring 2025 (and not graduating Spring 2025) or incoming undergraduate students who are planning to enroll in Fall 2025.

Past students have worked on a variety of different projects including, but not limited to:

2025 Program Timeline

Application Requirements

Apply to the Shapen Fellowship

The Shapen Fellowship application will open on February 15, 2025.

Questions? Reach out to Gabriella Mulder, Education Coordinator, and Cec Hardacker, Director of Education, by emailing internshipresidency@howardbrown.org.

About Greg Shapen


Greg Shapen was a Howard Brown employee who died of AIDS-related complications in 1990. His parents, George and Juanita, wanted to ensure that Greg’s contributions were remembered, and so established this fellowship to keep the memory of their son alive in perpetuity.

Greg worked as a walk-in clinic manager at Howard Brown, where he met his partner, John Weldt. When Greg was diagnosed with AIDS, he told John “I want a house and a dog before I die.” They bought a three-flat in Andersonville and Greg adopted a Dalmatian that he named Daisy. “Howard Brown was the center of our lives,” John said, remembering that the staff threw them a dog shower.

Greg will be remembered for his thoughtfulness and generosity. As the end of his life neared, Greg gave those he loved keepsakes by which to remember him. Greg gave his father a beloved tie that he still wears once a year.

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