Global, interdisciplinary training to achieve health equity: The Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity, Evolution and Impact: Q&A and Discussion

Proposal: To close the gaps in life expectancy and health equity that exist, we need more robust leadership in both the technical and the moral issues related to health and wellbeing. The Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity (AFHE) program aims to train these leaders – individuals who have health equity as their mindset and health disparities reduction as their skillset.

The AFHE program identifies early-mid career leaders in health with a demonstrated commitment to equity in their work. The yearlong experience requires applicants to be actively engaged in projects that impact marginalized communities in order to apply the knowledge and skills introduced during the year-long program. In this way, the training is designed to develop a network of leaders who enact real change in their communities.

The training program brings together the many diverse industries and professions that influence the health and well-being of communities, including art, law, business, academia, medicine, government, journalism, social enterprise, research, communications, housing, and health care, among others. Of 123 fellows in the community (107 graduates, 16 current fellows), approximately half are healthcare professionals with training in medicine, nursing, physical therapy, nutrition, pharmacy and psychology. They are from 32 different countries, predominantly low- and middle-income countries in Africa and Asia.

The acknowledgment that no single profession or country has “solved” for health equity creates an opportunity for all to teach, learn and grow. Participating in new experiences together creates a sense of connectedness that transcends traditional siloes. Taken together, the fellowship fosters a sense of belonging and community that builds courage, encourages creativity, and lends ongoing support after graduation. Key elements of the training experience have already been replicated at different institutions across the world including schools of nursing, law, and public health.

Dr. Guenevere Burke, director of the AFHE program, is also a co-founder. She developed the fellowship concept with Fitzhugh Mullan and colleagues in 2016 based on their experience training physicians in health policy and social mission. She will present the program's early outcomes, including survey data, narratives of impact on fellows, their organizations, and communities, as well as the broader field of health equity leadership training. She will also share the evolution of the curriculum and training approaches over the past 7 years.

If accepted, please consider joining this presentation with potential submissions from the GW Residency Fellowship in Health Policy and the Office of Minority Health (OMH) Health Equity Leadership Development Initiative.