Program Goals 
Moving toward a high-performance health care system requires trained, dedicated physician leaders who can transform health care delivery systems and promote policies and practices that improve access to high-quality care and health outcomes for vulnerable populations, including racial and ethnic minorities and economically disadvantaged groups. With the passage of the Affordable Care Act, it is more important than ever that the needs of vulnerable populations be represented by well-trained clinician leaders as the provisions of the new law are implemented. Since 1996, the Mongan Commonwealth Fund Fellowship Program in Minority Health Policy (formerly the Commonwealth Fund/Harvard University Fellowship in Minority Health Policy) has played an important role in developing physician leaders who will address the health needs of vulnerable populations.
Based at Harvard Medical School under the direction of Joan Reede, M.D., Dean for Diversity and Community Partnership, the year-long fellowship offers intensive study in health policy, public health, and management for physicians committed to transforming delivery systems for vulnerable populations. Fellows also participate in leadership forums and seminars with nationally recognized leaders in health care delivery systems, minority health, and public policy. Under the program, fellows complete academic work leading to a master of public health degree at the Harvard School of Public Health, or a master of public administration degree at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Beginning with the July 2012 entering class, the fellowship program will include an optional second year of practicum experience to supplement the fellows’ academic and leadership development training, with practical experience creating high performance health care for vulnerable populations. Fellows chosen for the second-year practicum will spend one year in a health care delivery system setting, a federal or state agency, or a policy-oriented institution. The practicum is a competitive program open to first-year fellows, with a variable number of placements available per year.
For more information about the fellowship, please visit: http://www.mfdp.med.harvard.edu/fellows_faculty/cfhuf/about.html.
Download the program brochure (PDF).