This fund has been established to honor Benjamin H. Josephson, MD - pediatrician, family practitioner, teacher, mentor and friend. In combining the highest professional standards of health care with his advocacy for the poor, the young and the disenfranchised, Dr. Josephson stood as an example and inspiration to others. As an ongoing commitment to the continuation of his humanitarian work, this fund provides healthcare professionals with the financial resources necessary to deliver medical services to those in need throughout the world.
About Us
Dr. Benjamin H. Josephson was one of the founding directors and mentors of the Overlook Family Practice Residency Program, a community-based teaching hospital located in Summit, New Jersey, and a member of Atlantic Health System. Dr. Josephson, a pediatrician in private solo practice for 18 years prior to joining the residency faculty, was a dedicated humanitarian who volunteered his time and expertise throughout his career. His love of travel, coupled with his unbridled passion for protecting human rights, took him to assist the sick and wounded children in the war-torn countries of Bosnia, Rwanda, Zaire, and Iraq and to impoverished areas of Honduras, Russia, Appalachia and Native American Reservations. Additionally, he devoted his time to the Morristown Soup Kitchen, the VA Hospital, a local public health clinic, and a shelter for battered women.
The Benjamin H. Josephson, MD Fund was founded following Ben's death in 1998 with a grant from the New York Community Trust---the Donald R. Gant Fund. The Fund is designed to encourage residents, attendings, and other medical professionals to volunteer their time to deliver medical services to underserved populations throughout the world. Although the Fund's first priority is to support healthcare professionals from the Atlantic Health System professional community, program administrators also consider applications from residents, attendings, and nurses from outside the system.
Brian Talbot, MD: Lancaster General Health, Family Medicine- PGY2
Uganda: January, 2025
My trip to the Ddegeya Village in Uganda was inspiring and educational. I feel very fortunate to have been able to form new relationships and strengthen many existing ones as well.
Read more →Eric Burdge, MD: Albany Medical Center, Family Medicine- PGY2
Uganda: January, 2025
My recent trip to the Engeye Health Clinic in the village of Degeya in rural Uganda provided me with an opportunity for learning and growth as a physician.
Read more →Ahkiya Allen, MD: Lehigh Valley Health Network, Family Medicine- PGY1
India: January, 2025
My volunteer work in Kolkata, India, with the Institute for Indian Mother & Child has provided me with invaluable insights and diverse clinical experiences. In an outdoor clinic setting, I encountered numerous patients needing care for chronic infections, often worsened by limited access to treatment. To aide in care, I was able to conduct wound care and administer injections.
Read more →Samir El-Sawaf, MD: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Family Medicine and Community Health Residency- PGY3
Uganda: January, 2025
My trip to Degeya, Uganda was one of the most rewarding experiences of my medical career. I was able to see patients of all ages, from newborn through old age, alongside Ugandan clinicians and independently.
Read more →Jessica Bedele, DO: Goryeb Children's Hospital, Pediatrics - PGY3
Ghana: January, 2025
The terrain was rough, the heat was relentless, and each day began early with a walk to the hospital. Iced water became a necessity. Yet, there was beauty in it all—because this was home.
Read more →Katherine Kiley, MD: Mountain Area Health Education Center, Family Medicine- PGY1
Honduras: January, 2025
I feel incredibly fortunate to work with MAHEC, an organization that has partnered with Shoulder to Shoulder for nearly 17 years. Together, we've made biannual trips to the town of Camasca, Honduras.
Read more →