The Fellowship Program’s curriculum is focused on health equity, collaborative leadership, and systems thinking. Fellows progress through the curriculum over the course of their two years in the program and bring back their learnings to their work at their respective placement sites. The goal of the Wisconsin Population Health Service Fellowship Program is to train the next generation of public health leaders who will employ cutting-edge skills, systems thinking, and a commitment to collaboration and health equity to improve conditions for all Wisconsinites. The following curriculum helps advance this work:
Monthly Learning Community Meetings
The Fellowship Program gathers monthly as a Learning Community in community-based locations across the state. The Learning Community provides fellows, preceptors, and program leaders opportunities to closely examine prominent public health issues, learn about innovative programs, and discuss how the learnings from the day can be applied to their own work. Given the strong focus on health equity and community partnerships, the program works with and learns from communities that are at the forefront of tackling health inequities. Fellows plan and facilitate at least one monthly meeting every year.
Leadership & Career Coaching
Over the course of their 2 years in the program, fellows advance through a series of sessions on leadership development and career exploration. Fellows dive into their own leadership style and learn about equity-centered leadership, communication, and conflict transformation. In addition, fellows participate in sessions on career exploration to guide self–reflection, career goals, and leadership opportunities.
Core Activities of Learning
The Fellowship Program utilizes the Council on Linkages for Public Health Practice Core Activities of Learning (CALs) as a tool to ensure fellows are getting breadth and depth of public health practice skills throughout their two years in the program. CALs are core competencies needed by our public health workforce. Fellows document the work they do in each CAL domain area and self-assess their proficiency. Preceptors also assess their fellow’s proficiency and utilize this information to adjust projects. The CALs serve as a portfolio of the fellows’ accomplishments and a springboard for job searching as they complete the program. Fellows regularly meet with preceptors and program staff to systematically review CALs as well as their accomplishments, opportunities and challenges, and future plans.
Progress Review Meetings
Fellows facilitate quarterly check-in calls with their preceptor(s), program staff, and program faculty, called Progress Review Meetings. These meetings serve as a regular touch-base and built in reflection points as fellows progress through their 2 years in the program. Fellows discuss their progress on the CALs, reflections on their goals, and updates on their current projects. Mentorship is built into these meetings, and fellows can bring challenges and areas for support.
Professional Development Funds
Fellows receive professional development funds to complement and supplement their growth. Fellows utilize these funds to attend state and national public health conferences, subject area trainings, certifications, or other ways to further their goals and professional growth during their two years as a fellow. Fellows receive $1,800/year for professional development.