Program Goals
Moving toward a high-performance health care system requires trained, dedicated physician leaders who can promote policies and practices that improve minority Americans' access to high-quality care. With the passage of the Affordable Care Act, it is more important than ever that minority health care needs be represented by well-trained clinician leaders as policies in the new law are implemented. Since 1996, the Commonwealth Fund/Harvard University Fellowship in Minority Health Policy has played an important role in developing such leaders.
Based at Harvard Medical School under the direction of Joan Reede, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., M.B.A., the dean for diversity and community partnership, the year-long Fellowship offers intensive study in health policy, public health, and management for physicians with a commitment to changing the system to better serve vulnerable minority populations. Fellows also participate in leadership forums and seminars with nationally recognized leaders in minority health and public policy. Under the program, fellows complete academic work leading to a master's degree in public health at the Harvard School of Public Health.
As of July 2010, 92 Fellows have graduated since the program began. In 2010–11, seven physicians were selected as Minority Health Policy Fellows, including one who will be supported by a dedicated scholarship made possible through Harvard University.
Open to: international physicians
