ABOUT CLINICAL SCHOLARS

Clinical Scholars is a leadership development opportunity for practitioners from diverse fields of health care. Interdisciplinary teams of health care providers collaborate across sectors, tackling complex health problems in their communities, and building a Culture of Health nationwide.

The Clinical Scholars program seeks audiologists, clinical counselors, dentists, dieticians, nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists, physical therapists, physicians, physician assistants, psychologists, social workers, speech therapists, veterinarians, and others working in community, clinical or academic settings.

The Program at a Glance

Who is Clinical Scholars for?

Interdisciplinary teams of two to five active professionals in community, clinical, or academic settings. Participants do not need to relocate; they will continue working in their home communities. Each year, the program selects up to 35 applicants.

All team members must hold a clinical license in their chosen health profession.
All team members must have completed all required clinical training five years before program launch.
Teams may be working together already, or formed for this program.
Organizations apply and are represented by teams of two to five people (“fellows”)

What do fellows receive?

Teams receive grant funding up to $525,000.
A three-year leadership development program.
The opportunity to network and learn with other clinical professionals.
Mentoring and coaching from leaders in clinical practice, equity, policy, and advocacy.
In year three, initiate a bold Culture of Health project with a community-based team.
The ability to continue working from their home communities without the need to pause their career or relocate.

Download Fact Sheet

MEET THE FELLOWS

THE CLINICAL SCHOLARS EXPERIENCE

Over the course of the three-year program, teams will:

Grant funding is awarded based on team size, ranging from up to $210,000 for a two-person team to a maximum of $525,000 for a five-person team.
Design and implement a real-world project.
Develop high-level leadership skills through professional coaching, networking, and an advanced leadership curriculum, including seven in-person leadership sessions reinforced by distance-based learning using interactive technology.
Continue working in their home communities and applying new learnings in real time.
Network and become part of a national group of leaders spanning clinical specialties, thematic areas of interest, and regions.
Receive high-touch mentoring and executive coaching from national leaders in clinical practice, health equity, public policy, and advocacy.
Present the results of their project in several settings, including a “TED”- style talk.

Learn more about fellows’ experience in this program

Fellows website

THE RESULT: LEADERS EQUIPPED TO BUILD A CULTURE OF HEALTH IN AMERICA

Upon completion, participants will be equipped to:

Lead and collaborate across sectors, professions, and settings.
Engage with their community, inﬂuencing systems and institutions.
Frame systemic issues and build public will to solve them.
Demonstrate a deep understanding of the root causes of inequity, Culture of Health, research, and other concepts.
Advocate for systemic change to improve health and health equity.
Break down silos across disciplines and settings to build a Culture of Health.
Extend their leadership beyond the clinic to evolve the landscape of health and health care.

Clinical Scholars is a program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, led by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The Robert Wood Johnson foundation

These programs continue the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s legacy of supporting the development and diversity of leaders. Initially focused on health and health care, the programs have been expanded, because we know that building a Culture of Health requires all of us in every sector, profession, and discipline working together.

For more than 40 years, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has worked to improve health and health care. It is working with others to build a national Culture of Health, enabling everyone in America to live longer, healthier lives.

For more information, visit www.RWJF.org