Health Equity Leadership Development Initiative - The Office of Minority Health (OMH) Health Equity Leadership Development Program (HELDI) at the Fitzhugh Mullan Institute for Health Workforce Equity (Mullan Institute) is a one-year residential fellowship program aimed at preparing a trained cadre of diverse leaders to make immediate and longitudinal impact in the federal government and in communities across the nation. Consistent with the Executive Order on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce, the program will educate future leaders who have been underrepresented in federal service about key health policy issues and cultivate diverse leaders who can transform public health to function more effectively, efficiently, and inclusively. The program objectives are to train and support future leaders who will: develop the individual capacity to know disparities and have the knowledge, skills, and courage to combat inequity; develop the skills to lead people, lead change, build coalitions, have business acumen and be results driven; and be engaged and connected to a community of health leaders. Fellows will be matched with a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) host site to gain experience working with federal programs and leaders, and engage in a health equity focused policy project for the HHS site. Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) will be engaged as partners to identify potential minority fellows, with the additional goal of increasing MSI partnerships and interest in supporting future federal and public service. The intentional combination of developing individuals, organizations, and community will support future leaders who will advance health equity as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion in needed spaces, such as the federal government. In collaboration with OMH, the Mullan Institute will recruit and train two consecutive cohorts of six (6) fellows at the graduate student or recent graduate level and place fellows in HHS host sites, such as the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, and others. Fellows will be placed in HHS host sites for an 11-month work experience focused on real time health programs and policies and complete a health equity focused policy analysis project for their host site. Throughout the year, fellows will participate in coordinated in-person convenings and longitudinal monthly seminars and site visits focused on health equity, policy, leadership, and technical skills that incorporate the OMH developed curriculum and training modules. Fellows will also receive leadership coaching, participate in peer coaching, and be connected with a mentor who has government and leadership experience. In coordination with OMH, the Mullan Institute will evaluate fellows’ reaction, learning, and behavior change as a result of the program, as well as the impact fellows make on their organizations and on health equity related to the program. Feedback and lessons learned from the first round of OMH Minority Leadership Development Program will be put into practice. The primary outcome of the OMH HELDI is for fellows to acquire enhanced knowledge, skills, and courage in leading change, leading people, and building coalitions with business acumen in a results driven mindset for federal leadership and advancing health equity. Secondary outcomes will include increasing HHS host sites engaged in supporting diverse leaders and advancing health equity, and identifying the factors, challenges, and lessons learned in implementing the OMH HELDI.
