Medical Justice in Advocacy Fellowship

The Medical Justice in Advocacy Fellowship is a collaborative educational initiative to empower physician-led advocacy that advances equity and removes barriers to optimal health for marginalized people and communities.

Started in 2021, in collaboration with the Satcher Health Leadership Institute (SHLI) at Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM), the fellowship mobilizes physicians to be part of the next generation of advocacy leaders, driving meaningful policy and structural changes that produce equity and justice in the communities they serve.

Apply to become a fellow

Join the third cohort of health equity-rooted physicians committed to closing the detrimental health gap impacting so many lives. Deadline is Monday, April 1, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.

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The AMA-SHLI Medical Justice in Advocacy Fellowship is a unique, first of its kind post-doctoral fellowship designed to enhance physicians’ advocacy leadership skills to improve health outcomes and advance health equity in the areas they serve or may serve.

Using an anti-racist, equity-centered learning framework, the fellowship will provide a mentoring and training platform that will equip participants with the foundational skills, tools and knowledge to engage in institutional and political health advocacy. This involves exploring several critical topic areas, including:

• Upstream (action-based) models of advocacy that address social and structural drivers of health
• Structural, cultural, political, and historical analysis of the production of inequities
• Sector and resource engagement required to improve community health and well-being

The implementation of the Medical Justice in Advocacy Fellowship aligns with the AMA’s strategic approach to collaborate with stakeholders to eliminate health inequities by pushing upstream and creating pathways for truth, reconciliation and healing to remove obstacles in patient care. Under Morehouse School of Medicine’s vision of leading in the creation and advancement of health equity, SHLI aims to be the leading transformational force for health equity in policy, leadership development and research.

The fellowship is open to all physicians and residents who have a demonstrated interest in health equity and health advocacy.

Note: Internships and graduate assistantships will not count towards the professional experience requirement.

The fellowship runs from Sept. 2024–⁠Nov. 2025.

Fellows participate in a three-day, in-person learning intensive at the beginning of the fellowship and subsequently engage in monthly learning sessions with a multidisciplinary, multisectoral group of nationally-renowned experts, scholars, researchers and current and former policymakers across all levels of government.

Monthly sessions will be held virtually with three (3) in-person learning experiences scheduled during the fellowship.

Note: This is subject to change depending on extraneous factors impacting travel and large group in-person gatherings.

Taking a sabbatical is not required during the fellowship. AMA membership is not required for the fellowship.

Virtual instructional webinars/meetings

• Frequency: Every third Friday of the month from noon–2 p.m., Eastern
• Monthly convening from Oct. 2024–Aug. 2025

Note: On months when there are in-person convenings, fellows will not meet virtually for that month. 

Half the dues, all the AMA benefits!

• Free access to JAMA Network™ and CME
• Save hundreds on insurance
• Fight for physicians and patient rights

Join for Half Dues

Full day commitments

• Sept. 2024: Inaugural Convening for Fellows/Three-day Fellowship Intensive (Atlanta, Georgia)
• Feb. 2025: Convening Fellows for AMA National Advocacy Conference (Washington, D.C.)
• June 7–11, 2025: Convening Fellows for the AMA House of Delegates Annual Meeting (Chicago)
• Nov. 15–18, 2025: Convening Fellows for the AMA House of Delegates Interim Meeting (National Harbor, Maryland)

Monthly health equity project and learning session preparation effort

• Approximately 3 to 6 hours monthly doing preparation work for class preparation (i.e. readings, group work, etc.) and project development & implementation all done on your own time.
• Monthly office hours offered for health equity project support and general communications support.

Participating fellows will receive a stipend of $15,000* for their participation in the program and would be eligible for CME credit hours**.

*Note: Receipt of full stipend is contingent upon program participation and completion.

**The Morehouse School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Morehouse School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of up to 13.75 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent to their participation in the activity.

• Engagement with like-minded professionals to generate and exchange solutions towards a more equitable and healthier communities.
• Connection with health equity experts and leaders for learning and mentorship opportunities.
• Flexible, blended learning solutions that may be incorporated into the clinical schedule.
• Knowledge and skill development to establish better trust among patients and serve as patient advocates.
• Partnership with AMA and SHLI on their respective commitments to transform health inequities through a social justice lens.

If you seek to advance health equity in your community, apply for the fellowship. The fellowship is an open competition. The application process is currently open and closes April 1, 2024. To be considered, all required documents must be submitted by the deadline.

Application package

An application package includes

• An online application with professional profile, candidate interest short-essay and demographic profile questions.
• Curriculum vitae (CV).
• Three recommendation forms* from professional leaders, community-based leaders and organizers and others with demonstrated knowledge/experience of the applicant’s efforts towards advancing health equity.

*Note: After the applicant’s application and references are received, AMA-SHLI will send a recommendation form via e-mail to the references listed. All forms must be completed by the recommender for the application to be complete. Recommendations are due April 5, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.

Application essay questions

There are four essay sections as part of this application. The questions are noted here for reference, should the applicant prefer to work on this prior to the final application submission.

1. Describe (in detail) the community in which your primary practice is located and tell us about the patient population that you serve. [150-250 words]
2. Provide one detailed example of how your previous training experience has affected your current practice. [250 words]
3. Describe one specific way that you feel your participation in this fellowship could have an impact on your ability to serve the community(ies) in which you work. [250 words]
4. How has your lived experience influenced your practice of medicine and decision to practice medicine? [250 words]

Full application packets are due by Monday, April 1, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.

Recommendation forms are due by Friday, April 5, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.

A committee of leaders from AMA and SHLI will review the application packets and select the finalists. Finalists will then be invited for a virtual interview with AMA and SHLI leaders.

Apply for the fellowship.

Learn more about the outstanding physician leaders of the 2022-2023 AMA-SHLI Medical Justice in Advocacy Fellowship.

For additional information regarding the fellowship, please contact [email protected].