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Health Policy Leadership Fellowship Program
The Health Policy Leadership Fellowship Program (est. 2009) is designed to provide postdoctoral professionals with the specific knowledge, experiences, and skills needed to prepare them for leadership roles in promoting and implementing policies and practices to reduce and ultimately eliminate disparities in health. Consistent with the vision and mission of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute (SHLI), it is the goal of the fellowship program to develop a diverse group of health leaders who care enough, know enough, do enough, and are persistent enough to help realize global health equity.
Eligibility
Applicants eligible to apply for postdoctoral fellowships must have received their doctoral degrees (ex. PhD, EdD, DrPH, JD, etc.) or medical degrees (MD, DO, etc.) with completed residency training. All degrees must be from a regionally accredited institution. Degree requirements must be completed by June 1 prior to starting the fellowship. Residency training must be completed by June 30 prior to starting the fellowship.
Program Description
The fellowship is a 10-month program, beginning in September and ending in June of the following year. Fellows may be eligible for faculty appointments in departments related to their disciplines or may have additional training opportunities through our partnerships. This will include shared time and responsibilities with the supporting department or partner. All fellowship positions are full time. A limited amount of fellowship-related travel is required. All fellows will receive a $50,000 salary including health and dental insurance, through Morehouse School of Medicine. Support for fellowship-related books, travel, and conferences will also be provided.
Curriculum
The Health Policy Leadership Fellowship Program includes formal and informal instruction, policy leadership shadowing and learning experiences with government, business, health care, public health, and community partners, monthly Journal club, and health policy leadership forums. In addition, fellows may have additional training, practice, teaching, and/or research responsibilities with a supporting academic department or partner, community-based practicum experiences, and be expected to complete a health policy research project. All fellows will also participate in the National Center for Primary Care Faculty Development Program, which is one-half day weekly. The fellowship's major focus areas include leadership development, health policy, and health equity with concentrations in both behavioral and sexual health.
Didactic Sessions
Interactive didactic sessions are designed to cover the gamut of basic and advanced content from which fellows will build their knowledge base. Content areas include topics in health systems, public health, health policy, health disparities, sexual health, behavioral health, and leadership development. Fellows actively learn and participate in sessions through presentations, case studies, group blogs, and other activities.Community-Based Practicum Experiences
Fellows will complete two 8-week practicum experiences, one in sexual health and the other in behavioral health. Practicum experiences are designed as opportunities for the fellows to get involved with a broad range of both governmental and community-based organizations and apply their knowledge and skills related to both policy analysis and organizational leadership. Fellows will choose the venues for their experiences. Select fellows may be placed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Kaiser Permanente.Leadership Experiences
Fellows participate in leadership shadowing experiences with government leaders and their staff at the Georgia state capital. They observe firsthand how policy making intersects with the legislative process. In addition, fellows will have leadership experiences with local community organizations, health care organizations, public health organizations, and health care professional organizations. This will provide opportunities to observe leadership styles and strategies across a variety of organizational types and structures.Leadership Sessions
Leadership sessions are held bimonthly to provide opportunities to meet and learn about the challenges of leadership from a pool of experts. Leaders from government, business, health care, public health, academic institutions, and community organizations will be invited to serve as subject experts and to lead discussions around identified leadership issues.Health Policy Journal Club
Fellows will be responsible for presenting a monthly health policy journal club to discuss current articles related to health policy, particularly as it relates to health disparities.Health Policy Research Project
Fellows are expected to complete a health policy research project. Research projects should addresses disparities in health that have policy implications. Projects can be related to departmental work, community practicum experience, or an area of health policy interest. Topic of research must be approved by the Fellowship Director.Faculty Development
All fellows will participate in the National Center for Primary Care Faculty Development Program, a modular program, designed to develop critical teaching, writing, and research skills for health professionals, in a supportive, nurturing environment. This program usually takes place one half-day weekly.
Select fellows will be awarded a faculty appointment with a Morehouse School of Medicine academic department based on their area of training or interest. Responsibilities of a faculty appointment may include course instruction, grant writing, training of medical students and residents, clinical practice, or other duties. Fellows’ time will be divided, fulfilling fellowship requirements and departmental duties.Concurrent Opportunities
Select candidates will have opportunities for concurrent training with partners of the fellowship program. Through our partnership with Georgia State University's Center for Leadership in Disability, candidates with the appropriate backgrounds and interests will be considered for this unique training program, which leverages the strengths of both institutions. The Georgia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (GaLEND) Interdisciplinary Training Program prepares health leaders to serve children with developmental disorders and related disabilities and their families. The selected fellow’s time will be divided, fulfilling the requirements of both programs.
Program Objectives
The objective of the Health Policy Leadership Fellowship Program is to ensure that by
the end of the program fellows achieve the necessary knowledge, experiences, and skills to:
•Critically analyze issues, programs, and policies which impact on health and health care, particularly as they relate to disparities in health.
•Formulate and develop health policies that support the reduction and ultimate elimination of disparities in health.
•Assume leadership roles in the promotion and implementation of practices and policies that support the reduction and ultimate elimination of disparities in health.
•Work effectively with disadvantaged communities and develop sustainable programs and organizations that support the reduction and ultimate elimination of health disparities.
•Promote career development in health policy, academia, public health, and research.
Funding
The Health Policy Leadership Fellowship Program receives grant funding from the following agencies and organizations:
•Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
•Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal Child Health Branch
•Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health
•Kaiser Permanente
•Northrop Grumman
For further information, please contact:
Renée Volny, DO, MBA
Interim Associate Director, Health Policy Leadership Fellowship
Satcher Health Leadership Institute
Morehouse School of Medicine
720 Westview Drive SW
NCPC 241
Atlanta, GA 30310-1495
Office: 404-752-1694
Fax: 404-752-1040