Health Foundation accepting applications for sixth class of Health Leadership Fellows

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Health Foundation for Western & Central New York today announced it is accepting applications for a sixth class of its Health Leadership Fellows program.

The Buffalo–based organization has an office at the CNY Philanthropy Center at 431 E. Fayette St. in Syracuse.

Eligible applicants include professionals in “decision-making positions of influence” in health-related or safety-net organizations that serve frail elders or children living in communities of poverty in Western and Central New York, the Health Foundation said in a news release.

The organization will conduct an information session from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 30 at the CNY Philanthropy Center.

Those interested can register for the session at the Health Foundation’s website, www.hfwcny.org.

“By participating in the Fellows program, people from all facets of the health-care industry can increase their leadership skills and play a key role in accelerating change in our community,” Ann Monroe, president of the Health Foundation, said in the news release. “By bringing together these health-care professionals, we hope to find new and innovative ways to improve health outcomes.”

The deadline to apply for the Health Leadership Fellows program isDec. 15. The program will begin in September 2015, the Health Foundation said.

The program’s goal is to expand a network of leaders that will “learn to lead collaboratively” from within and outside of their organizations and become advocates for improved health-care delivery, particularly for older adults and children impacted by poverty, the organization said.

The 18-month program includes sessions on personal leadership, leading change, communicating as a leader, results-based leadership and collaboration.

In addition to four retreats (each spanning two to three days), fellows will meet monthly and develop a collaborative, inter-organizational project in small teams.

The program will also provide each fellow with executive coaching and access to the Fellows’ website and learning materials.

A total of 99 Health Leadership Fellows (in three distinct cohorts) graduated from the original program that began in 2005 and ended in 2009.

These fellows, leading “collaboratively” to improve the health and well being of children and older adults, have made “significant” contributions throughout Western and Central New York, the Health Foundation said.

As graduates of the Health Leadership Fellows program, they continue their work as members of the Fellows Action Network, the organization said. The original program graduates launched the Fellows Action Network, according to the Health Foundation website.

The fourth cohort of Fellows is graduating in 2015 and the fifth cohort is getting ready to begin its work this month, according to the Health Foundation.

The Health Foundation for Western & Central New York is an independent, private foundation that says it works to improve the health and health care of the people of Western and Central New York.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com