The Chia Family Health Fellowship Program seeks to improve health outcomes in defined communities in Hunan province through a variety of health education programs, and to further the professional careers of Chinese women in the health professions.

From 1998-2001, fellowships were awarded to nine Chinese female health professionals. After four years, the Chia Fellowship program significantly improved the professional education and standing of these nine women, while also increasing understanding and awareness of critical issues affecting the health of the concentrated community of people who live in the city of Changsha. Chia Fellows tackled issues that included hypertension in the elderly, air pollution directly linked to respiratory diseases, mosquito-borne viruses, poor nutrition in school-aged children, and HIV/AIDS infection. In addition to these benefits, the program created a network of scholars at Yale and in Changsha who continue to collaborate on research and share information and experience. 

In 2002, the supporting grant from the Chia Family Foundation was extended for another five years with a specific focus on hepatitis and other blood-borne diseases. Two Fellows will be selected annually from 2003-04 to 2006-07, for a total of eight Chinese women health professionals who demonstrate promise of leadership in their fields. Fellows will have the opportunity to collaborate with Yale faculty in planning their projects and enjoy the support of the Yale-China Association, Yale faculty mentors, and the faculty of the Xiangya School of Medicine in executing these projects in Changsha. Past and current Fellows present the results of their projects and their ongoing work to their colleagues and community leaders at an annual conference in Changsha each fall.

Based on this established model, we anticipate that by 2008, the Chia Fellowship program will have supported the work of 17 Chinese women health professionals, strengthened the network of U.S. and Chinese health providers, raised the awareness of Changsha citizens and policy-makers about the contributions women in the health field can make to improving effective public educational outreach, and improved the health of countless citizens of Changsha. After nine years of Chia Fellowship education in Changsha and with increased awareness of the value of this program, this sustainable model can continue to educate Fellows and have ongoing province-wide health and education results in Hunan. Furthermore, the model can be emulated to positively benefit many other Chinese communities as well.