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The Aurora Fellowship Program

aurora prize logo for fellowship award

We are no longer accepting Aurora Fellowship applications.

Why the Aurora Fellowship was Established?

In May 2017, the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity was awarded to Dr. Tom Catena, an internationally recognized humanitarian, Catholic missionary, and longtime CMMB volunteer. Catena was honored for his courageous work as the first and only permanent medical doctor serving 750,000 people in Sudan’s war-torn, Nuba Mountains, where he has served since 2008.

Dr. Tom, as he is affectionately known in Sudan, designated three key partners to share the $1 million dollar prize, including CMMB. One of CMMB’s three initiatives supported by this award is the launch of the Aurora Fellowship program.

What is the Aurora Fellowship?

The Aurora Fellowship program is designed to provide specialized opportunities for highly skilled professionals to bring care to the most marginalized and hard to reach communities in the world; places where their services will have a positive impact on the health of women, children, and their communities.

The fellowship will support up to 15 volunteers who have a clear commitment to providing care for underserved populations in areas of extreme hardship.

Locations

Aurora fellows will serve in very remote locations where the population suffers from lack of healthcare and extreme poverty.  Fellows should be aware that some locations are considered conflict zones.

  • Sudan: Mother of Mercy Hospital in the Nuba Mountains
  • South Sudan: Yambio, Nzara, or Ezo
  • Kenya: Mutomo Mission Hospital

Eligibility

Aurora Fellows must:

  • Be at least 21 years old
  • Have current active license to practice in good standing with licensing body (clinical only)
  • Meet requirements and qualifications of the position to which they are applying (varies by role)
  • Have minimum of three years of relevant experience
  • Have prior volunteer experience
  • Demonstrate their experience serving marginalized or international communities at home or abroad
  • Have prior international experience or experience serving marginalized communities and/or individuals
  • Make a plan to continue to serve the marginalized or underserved following the completion of their Aurora Fellowship
  • Possess the skills, technology, and desire to capture and share stories and photos from the field on a regular basis

Professions

Medicine

  • General surgeon
  • OB/GYN
  • General Practitioner/Family medicine
  • Internal medicine
  • Pediatrician
  • Physician assistant

Nursing and Allied Health

  • RN/BSN
  • Nurse practitioner
  • Midwife
  • Nutritionist
  • Medical technologist/lab tech

Non-Clinical

  • Operations/Logistics
  • Supply chain manager
  • WASH expert

Time Commitment

Minimum of six months of overseas service. Preference will be given to volunteers who can serve longer (up to one year).

Benefits

Those who are selected as Aurora Fellows will receive:

  • Round-trip airfare to and from placement site
  • Accommodation in location
  • Insurance coverage (travel health, emergency evacuation, accident, and liability/malpractice insurance), and
  • Monthly stipend

Obligations

Aurora Fellows become CMMB Volunteer Ambassadors and are required to engage in the following ambassadorship activities:

  • Develop an awareness and fundraising campaign (no minimum fundraising requirement)
  • Record and submit at least two short videos (one prior to departure and one while in the field toward the end of placement). Note: cell phone videos are accepted
  • Submit a minimum of two monthly impact and/or field stories following the guidelines provided by the CMMB Team
  • Provide weekly content that can be used for social media (photos, quotes, short anecdotes)
  • Agree to marketing or promotional activities conducted by Aurora Prize or CMMB (e.g. interviews, site visits etc.)
  • Serve as an alumni ambassador post-service
  • Give talks, share articles and videos (institutional partners such as universities, employers, professional associations)
  • Help with outreach to recruit future fellows
  • Speak at CMMB events (e.g. pre-departure orientation)

Expectations

In addition to regular professional duties, Aurora Fellows will serve as storytellers, providing a first-hand account of the lives of those living in the remote communities where they will serve.

Time-frame for Aurora Fellowship Program

All Aurora Fellows must begin their volunteer placement by December 31st, 2018.

Click to apply for fellowship button

Our Volunteer Program

CMMB’s volunteer program addresses the critical need for professionals in areas that lack sufficient resources for quality preventative and curative health services, especially for women and children. Our Volunteer program has placed thousands of practitioners around the world to help develop and implement community health interventions, work at local hospitals and health facilities, conduct clinical training for host country counterparts, and deliver essential medicines and supplies. The ultimate goal of CMMB’s Volunteer program is to support our country teams and local healthcare workers by sending volunteers that are dedicated to strengthening local health systems and supporting a pattern of sustainable development.

Learn about other global opportunities with CMMB

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