Based at Harvard Medical School in the Office for Diversity Inclusion and Community Partnership, the Commonwealth Fund Fellowship in Minority Health Policy at Harvard University is a one-year, full-time, academic degree-granting program designed to prepare physicians, particularly physicians from groups underrepresented in medicine, to become leaders who improve the health of disadvantaged and vulnerable populations through transforming healthcare delivery systems and promoting innovation in policies, practices, and programs that address health equity and the social determinants of health. Fellows will complete academic work leading to a Master of Public Health degree at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health or a Master of Public Administration at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. The program incorporates the critical skills taught in schools of public health, government, business, and dental medicine with supervised practicum, shadowing, mentorship, leadership forums, and seminar series conducted by Harvard senior faculty and nationally recognized leaders in healthcare delivery systems and public policy.
The Commonwealth Fund Fellowship in Minority Health Policy at Harvard University welcomed its inaugural class in 1996. To date, 137 fellows have been trained, including those funded by the California Endowment Scholars Program and the Oral Health Fellowship Program (funded by The California Endowment, HRSA, the Dental Service of Massachusetts/Delta Dental Plan, and Harvard School of Dental Medicine).