The Commonwealth Fund Fellowship in Health Policy Leadership
The Commonwealth Fund Fellowship in Health Policy Leadership at Harvard University is a one-year, full-time, academic degree-granting program designed to prepare physicians to become leaders who improve the health for all, with emphasis on disadvantaged, vulnerable, and uninsured populations. Fellows focus on transforming health care delivery systems and promoting innovation in policies, practices and programs that address health equity and the social determinants of health. Fellows complete academic work leading to a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, or a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree at the Harvard Kennedy School with prior MPH. Fellows also participate in leadership forums and seminars with nationally recognized leaders in health care delivery systems and health policy; site visits, shadowing, and practicum projects.
Each fellowship provides: $80,000 stipend, full tuition, individual health insurance, books, travel, and related program expenses, including financial assistance for a practicum project.
The Fellowship is designed to prepare physician-leaders who will, over time, improve the capacity of the health care system to promote policies and practices that improve access to high quality care for all. To accomplish this, the program will:
- Provide strong academic training and coursework, including an MPH or MPA, for highly qualified physicians.
- Enhance the leadership ability of physicians, offering them substantive knowledge in health policy and management, while creating a network of physician-leaders capable of advancing successfully among the public, nonprofit/private, and academic sectors.
- Provide each fellow with mentoring by Harvard senior faculty and administrators as well as access to national leaders in health policy and public health practice.
- Bring together the faculty and resources of Harvard Medical School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard Kennedy School, and other Harvard professional schools to provide an enhanced core curriculum addressing transformation of health care delivery systems, health policy and practice, health provision and managed care, and health quality improvement.
- Utilize resources at HMS, including the Office for Culture and Community Engagement (OCCE), to enhance the networking, career development, and career advancement of fellows.
