What JHF Fellowships Are Teaching Us About the Future of Health Careers
Type: News
Focus Area: Workforce Development
At the March 26 meeting of the Health Careers Futures (HCF) Board, JHF staff spotlighted the impact of its longstanding fellowship programs and the critical role they play in preparing the next generation of healthcare leaders and activists.
For 25 years, JHF has designed fellowships for graduate students, as well as working professionals and most recently high school students, with the goal of enriching education, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and equipping the workforce with essential skills not often taught in advanced degree programs.
The goal of the fellowships is to give participants the skills and capacity to create the health system in which they want to work,” said JHF Chief Communications Officer Scotland Huber, MS.
Since launching its first programs in 2001, JHF’s fellowships, including the Feinstein Fellowships, have engaged thousands of participants, and each year more than 100 guest faculty, speakers, and partners contribute to these programs, creating rich learning environments that connect participants across disciplines and sectors.
To highlight the programs’ impact beyond just its participants, JHF staff “flipped the script,” sharing with the Board what the organization has learned from its participants. Staff expressed that while the fellowships are designed for the participants, the fellowships are viewed as a core part of JHF’s staff development. JHF can only be effective when it is connecting to life on the frontlines of delivering care and the fellowships facilitate a learning environment to gain critical insights from participants.
During the meeting, a panel of JHF staff leaders including Program Manager of Communications and Aging Initiatives Lisa George, MPH, CHES; Senior Program Manager for Perinatal Health Jennifer Condel, SCT(ASCP)MT; Policy Director Carolyn Byrnes, MPH, CPH; Project Manager Bridget McNamee, MID; and Senior Program Manager of Community Health Deborah Murdoch, MPH reflected on their leadership of and involvement with the fellowships.
The panel of JHF staff including (L to R): Deborah Murdoch, Bridget McNamee, Jennifer Condel, Lisa George, and Carolyn Byrnes.
Among the key lessons they shared: Fellows consistently demonstrate that traditional hierarchies in health care can be broken down with interdisciplinary teams working as equals to solve complex challenges; participants bring not only professional interest but also deeply personal experiences that fuel their commitment to improving patient safety, advancing innovation, and driving policy change; youth participants have made clear that they are ready to lead and advocate for change if given the space and support to do so; and fellows have a powerful dedication to supporting patients and families during vulnerable moments, particularly at end of life.
Following the discussion, Board members engaged in a forward-looking conversation about how to leverage the fellowship network to strengthen the healthcare workforce, expand alumni engagement, and respond to emerging needs in the field and how these learning communities can continue to shape the Foundation’s strategy and vision.
