As we emerge from the global pandemic, the lingering impact on health care is profound. On a daily basis, our public health workforce sees this firsthand: the long-standing health, economic, and social inequities that persist in our communities.
There is a great need to strengthen and diversify the public health workforce to bring culturally competent services, interventions, and programs to the way public health is delivered.
To meet that need, Kaiser Permanente and APHA, the American Public Health Association, established the Community Health Leadership Program in 2021.
The program offers one-year, full-time, paid fellowships for Master of Public Health graduates.
Supporting tomorrow’s changemakers
The fellowship program helps create strong, diverse public health leaders prepared to take on the factors that affect health. Each fellowship provides work experience for each recipient in an area of interest and where progress is needed.
People selected for the program receive a one-year work assignment. They work either for Kaiser Permanente or a key community partner. In their roles, they address the social factors that affect health in underserved communities.
Fellows develop their leadership skills. They also receive mentoring and networking opportunities.
“It’s exciting to see how this program has grown since it began in 2021. It brings much-needed voices and experiences focused on health equity,” said Stephanie Ledesma, vice president of community health programs for Kaiser Permanente. “I’m proud to welcome the third group of fellows. I look forward to the ways their contributions, through the fellowship and beyond, will shape a healthier future for all.”
To identify fellowship recipients, Kaiser Permanente and APHA partnered with public universities. Applications for the 2023 to 2024 fellowship program open in November 2023.
