AAFP Seeks Candidates for 2020-2021 Health Equity Fellowship

Application Deadline Extended to Oct. 1

July 23, 2020, 01:51 pm Michael Devitt – The AAFP, in conjunction with the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors, is seeking applicants for the 2020-2021 Health Equity Fellowship, which is now in its third year. In light of disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the AAFP's Center for Diversity and Health Equity has extended the application deadline to Oct. 1 to give interested parties additional time to apply.

In addition, fellows must commit to attend the following in-person meetings as assigned:

• Virtual Orientation (all tracks) -- January 2021, exact date TBD
• Rural Health Policy Institute (rural track only) -- Feb. 9-11, Washington, D.C.
• Program Directors Workshop (academic track only) -- March 5-7, Kansas City, Mo.
• National Conference of Constituency Leaders (all tracks) -- April 29-May 1, Kansas City, Mo.
• Family Medicine Experience (all tracks) -- Sept. 28-Oct. 2, Anaheim, Calif.
• Family Medicine Advocacy Summit or State Chapter Advocacy Day or AAFP State Legislative Conference (excludes rural track fellows) -- dates and locations TBD

The AAFP will reimburse travel and lodging expenses up to $1,500 for each meeting; no per diem or family travel expenses will be paid.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible fellowship applicants must be

• AAFP active members, especially those from population groups underrepresented in medicine and/or those practicing in rural communities;
• in practice or on teaching faculty (program directors or associate program directors are eligible); and
• out of residency and fellowship.

Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae and letter of interest. The letter of interest should be fewer than 500 words and must include

• an explanation of why the applicant wants to be a Health Equity Fellow, including a discussion of the applicant's major strengths and qualifications;
• an explanation of how the fellowship experience will impact the applicant's career goals and direction;
• information on how the applicant will contribute to the development of health equity at the local, regional or national level -- in conjunction with their employer, if appropriate;
• information regarding the applicant's experience and or contributions in the field of health equity, either through professional work or community or volunteer service, and how those efforts will contribute to the fellowship experience; and
• plans for continued development of health equity leadership skills after fellowship completion.

Applicants must also complete the AAFP's conflict of interest form (select Option 2) and submit a letter of recommendation from someone familiar with the applicant's knowledge, skills and ability to contribute to health equity.

Capstone Project

Applicants will be required to submit a one- to two-page proposal that briefly describes a health equity project they would like to complete during the fellowship term. The capstone project, which should focus on a health equity topic that is relevant to the applicant's work and/or the work of the applicant's institution, practice or department, is a key component of the fellowship and is designed to illustrate a fellow's achievement of the program's learning objectives.

"The project demonstrates their ability to identify and provide solutions to systemic issues and motivate stakeholders," Jones explained. "The capstone projects selected by fellows are as diverse in scope as family medicine itself.

"Fellows are investigating factors contributing to imposter syndrome in underrepresented faculty members, providing education on the impact of implicit weight bias, developing better systems of care coordination for patients from vulnerable communities and more," she noted. "AAFP members can definitely expect to see the outcomes of their work reflected in new CME, programs and products."

Each applicant's proposal should include the following components:

• Introduction, goal and vision: Applicants should provide an overview of their chosen health equity topic, an explanation of why it is important and details about the project location (e.g., their work site). What is the applicant's goal for this project? What is the applicant's vision of the future and how will this project help fulfill that vision?
• Timeline: What clearly defined, measurable tasks do applicants plan to accomplish during the 12-month fellowship?
• Institutional support: What financial or in‐kind resources will the applicants' institution, practice or department make available to help them implement the proposed project during the fellowship?

Finally, fellows will be expected to contribute to the development of content and products the AAFP creates to support ongoing education, skills-building and awareness among Academy members, including items such as toolkits, issue briefs, trainings and presentations.

Throughout the experience, fellows will have the full support of and access to AAFP resources needed to complete the capstone project and will receive coaching from assigned mentors and AAFP staff on a regular basis.

How to Apply

Applicants can submit their materials via a secure link on the Health Equity Fellowship page. A committee will review the applications and select fellows for the coming term. Those fellows will be notified by Oct. 30, as will all unsuccessful applicants.

Members who have additional questions about the application process or who would like to know more about the fellowship are encouraged to contact Danielle Jones via email.