Rural Health Fellows
The Rural Health Fellows (RHF) program is a year-long, intensive training program that develops leaders who can articulate a clear and compelling vision for rural America.
Each year, the NRHA selects 10 to 15 highly motivated individuals who have proven their dedication to improving the health of rural Americans through their educational or professional experience. These Rural Health Fellows undergo an intensive year-long skillbuilding program, including three advanced leadership training seminars, attendance at several of NRHA's educational conferences, monthly conference calls on rural health leadership, policy and strategic planning and a guided group project that will involve Fellows in the process of rural health policy analysis on a national level.
Fellows will gain valuable insights and build critical skills in three primary domains:
1) Personal, team and organizational leadership;
2) Health policy analysis and advocacy;
3) National Rural Health Association governance and structure.
These ambitious learning and skill development objectives will be accomplished through a combination of experiential and action learning, exposure to premier faculty and seasoned practitioners and reinforcement through executive coaching and structured team assignments.
Program Charter:
- To identify and develop individuals of high character and capability who share a passion for impacting rural health policy at the local, state and national levels.
- To create and build a community of leaders who will work individually and collectively to advocate for the health care needs of rural communities.
- To develop growing levels of leadership skill and advocacy competence that will translate into action and results on rural health policy issues.
- To educate, develop and inspire a networked community of leaders who will step forward to serve in key positions in the National Rural Health Association, affiliated rural health advocacy groups and local and state legislative bodies.
Requirements:
- Applicants must either be members of the NRHA or apply to become a member of NRHA.
- Applicants must have a sponsor to support travel/lodging expenses to attend three NRHA meetings: 1) The NRHA Rural Health Policy Institute in Washington, D.C. 2) The NRHA Annual Conference in Miami Beach, Fla. 3) The final RHF Graduation Ceremony in a location to be determined.
- Applicants must be willing/able to commit to monthly conference calls as part of this program and complete a final project as a member of an Action Project Team.
- Applicants must demonstrate a strong commitment to improving the health of all rural Americans and populations through appropriate and equitable health care services. This commitment must be demonstrated in the application essay as well as through the curriculum vitae/résumé of the applicant.
For more information, please contact Amy Elizondo, NRHA Vice President, Program Services, at 202-639-0550 or by e-mail at Elizondo@NRHArural.org.
