Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity 2026: Join a Fully Funded Global Fellowship in the USA
Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity is a transformative, one-year fellowship program dedicated to developing leaders who are committed to eliminating health disparities and building fairer, more inclusive health systems worldwide. Based at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University, the program equips early- to mid-career professionals with the skills, knowledge, and global network needed to drive systemic change.
At its core, the fellowship is grounded in a powerful belief: everyone deserves a fair chance to lead a healthy life.
A Global Community Committed to Equity
Since its founding in 2016, the Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity (AFHE) program has grown into a dynamic international network. The community includes more than 130 fellows from over 30 countries across five continents. These leaders come from diverse sectors including medicine, public policy, community engagement, disability advocacy, gender-based violence prevention, climate policy, and more.
Fellows are united by a shared mission: to close the gap between wealthy and marginalized communities by advancing equitable access to quality health care and public health resources.
As part of the broader Atlantic Fellows network, AFHE fellows join a global ecosystem spanning more than 90 countries and including over 1,000 fellows working collaboratively across disciplines.
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A Fellowship Designed for Real-World Impact
The Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity is a one-year, non-residential program that blends in-person convenings with virtual learning. The fellowship combines leadership development with a deep exploration of the social determinants of health and the structural drivers of inequity.
Participants engage in a hybrid curriculum that includes:
- In-person convenings
- Biweekly online classes
- Individualized coaching
- Peer mentoring
- Team-based learning
- A practical health equity project
The program begins with an initial convening in Washington, D.C., followed by mid-year and final convenings that focus on global health equity perspectives and long-term leadership growth.
Throughout the year, fellows work alongside faculty and mentors to develop and implement projects addressing pressing health equity challenges in their communities.
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Vision, Mission and Values
The program’s vision is bold: life-limiting disparities in health and health care can be reduced through determined, well-prepared leaders positioned strategically across health systems worldwide.
Its mission is to develop global leaders who understand the foundations of health inequity and possess the knowledge, skills, and courage to build more equitable organizations and communities.
Core values include:
- Equity
- Inclusivity
- Courage
- Diversity
- Creativity
- Humility
- Action orientation
These principles shape both the curriculum and the community experience.
Proven Outcomes and Growing Influence
Between 2017 and 2024, more than 120 fellows from over 30 countries completed the program. Graduates continue applying the leadership and equity skills they developed during the fellowship to expand access to care, support vulnerable populations, and influence institutional change.
Each graduating cohort becomes part of a lifelong community of Senior Fellows and the wider Atlantic Fellows network, which now comprises nearly 1,000 global members worldwide.
The program has also received recognition for excellence in advancing the social mission of health professional education, reflecting its innovative and impactful approach to leadership training.
Part of a Broader Global Movement
The Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity is one of several interconnected Atlantic Fellows programs worldwide. Health equity-focused programs operate in multiple regions, including South Africa, Southeast Asia, and the United States.
Together, these programs create a flourishing ecosystem where fellows collaborate across borders, share strategies, and amplify one another’s work. This cross-regional approach ensures that solutions are informed by diverse lived experiences and grounded in global solidarity.
Who Should Apply?
The fellowship seeks early- to mid-career professionals who:
- Are engaged in health-related work
- Demonstrate leadership potential
- Value diverse perspectives
- Want to eliminate health disparities
Applicants are selected based on demonstrated commitment to health equity, leadership potential, strength of project proposals, and recommendations.
Importantly, all educational experiences and travel expenses related to participation are covered by the program, making it accessible to leaders from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
Why This Fellowship Matters
Health inequities remain among the most urgent challenges facing societies today. Structural racism, poverty, climate change, and unequal access to care continue to shorten lives and diminish quality of life in communities worldwide.
The Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity program tackles these issues not by offering short-term solutions, but by investing in people — leaders who will spend decades transforming systems from within.
The fellowship provides a unique sense of belonging and support that extends well beyond the one-year program. Graduates join a vibrant alumni network that continues to collaborate, mentor, and advocate for change long after their fellowship year ends.
Building a Fairer Future
From Washington, D.C., to Cape Town, from Southeast Asia to communities across Africa, Europe, and the Americas, Atlantic Fellows are advancing policies, designing equitable systems, advocating for marginalized populations, and reshaping the narrative around health and justice.
By combining leadership development, interdisciplinary learning, and global solidarity, the Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity program is helping build a future where health is not determined by race, income, geography, or identity — but is recognized as a universal right.
For aspiring leaders ready to confront health disparities with courage, compassion, and innovation, this fellowship offers more than training. It offers a lifelong community and a global platform for meaningful change.
