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The U.S. Leadership Accelerator

Applications for our 2025-2026 U.S. Leadership Accelerator are now CLOSED! Thank you to all who applied. Our team is reviewing applications and all applicants will be notified by May 30th. 

What does the U.S. Leadership Accelerator offer emerging leaders?

GHC’s U.S. Leadership Accelerator is more than just a 9-month leadership-program––it’s a transformative opportunity to develop skills as a public health leader. Through immersive training, coaching, and a global network of peers, fellows strengthen their ability to drive change and advance health equity.

We’ve designed this program to respond to public health’s most pressing needs–find out more about the why here!

As a fellow, you will:

  • Deepen your self-awareness. Develop a clearer sense of your unique leadership strengths and weaknesses and an informed understanding of how you’re perceived by others. Articulate your personal values, explore your role in advancing health equity, and develop a vision for your growth as a leader.
  • Improve your capacity for learning. Explore barriers to and opportunities for learning about yourself and your work. Develop a personal learning agenda, interrogate personal mindsets and explore new strategies for learning.
  • Extend and leverage your networks. Adopt practices to extend your network in strategic ways, and get the support and critical insights you need to advance your leadership. You’ll integrate into GHC’s global community of 1,300+ alumni and advisors.
  • Improve your understanding of how change happens in a system. Explore frameworks and tools to better understand and analyze the systems you work and live in. Develop an understanding of how change happens and strategies you can use to leverage systems change.
  • Increase your efficacy. Gain confidence in practicing your leadership and achieving positive results in your workplace and community. Apply the knowledge and insights you develop through immersion in GHC’s leadership framework and leverage the relationships you develop through GHC’s community of alumni and advisors.
  • Gain access to additional resources through GHC’s network. This includes webinars, additional trainings, networking opportunities, and other resources  from across GHC and our Community Impact Team to help you further develop your skills and deepen your partnerships.
Apply for the 2025-2026 USLA Cohort!

The U.S. Leadership Accelerator is tuition-free, and designed with a hybrid learning approach with virtual and in-person learning opportunities. 

Once a fellow, always a fellow. After the program, fellows join GHC’s lifelong global network of 1,300+ alumni.

The 9-month program runs from September to May. Travel to retreat locations, lodging costs, and most meals for the in-person retreats will be covered by GHC. If accepted, participation in all components of the fellowship listed below are mandatory, unless otherwise noted.

All fellows will participate in:

  • Learning
    • Monthly virtual workshops (3 hours/workshop) built into your working day
    • Monthly small group learning (1-2 hours/month)
    • Asynchronous learning (1-2 hours/month) – required reading, writing and reflection in advance of workshops and small group learning
    • Optional learning opportunities – webinars, trainings, networking meetings, and access to GHC’s resources.
  • Coaching
    • 360° assessment
    • Executive one-on-one coaching 
    • GHC staff coaching and support
  • Connection
    • 2 in-person overnight retreats (3-4 days/convening)
    • Mentorship from GHC alumni and partners
    • Integration into GHC’s lifelong global network spanning 40+ countries

Some topic areas we cover: 

  • Authentic, Collective and Systems leadership
  • Mindtraps
  • Leadership visioning
  • Wellness & Well-Being
  • Leadership Storytelling
  • Giving and receiving feedback
  • Relationship Building
  • Mobilizing collective action
  • Systems change in the US 
  • And more!
 
Our application and review process are designed to assess willingness and ability to fully engage in the leadership accelerator as well as leadership fit for the GHC community. You may access a preview of the application here to ensure all your materials are prepared prior to submitting a formal application. 
 
What to expect: 
  • You’ll submit a resumé, program references, and demographic information
  • You’ll provide short responses to a variety of prompts so we can learn more about you
  • A letter of recommendation from your supervisor is required to be considered
Important Dates

Official Application Launch: March 3, 2025. The full application process officially opens on March 3rd.

March 31, 2025: Priority Application Closes – For best consideration, apply by 11:59 PST, March 31st. 
April 14, 2025: Final Application Closes at 11:59 pm PST. 
May 30, 2025: All applicants will be notified of their application status.
Fall 2025: In-Person Convening
Spring 2026: Final In-person Convening, Transition to Alumni Community

We intentionally cultivate a leadership experience that fosters inclusivity and a sense of belonging throughout the learning journey. The U.S. Leadership Accelerator is more than a fellowship–it’s a community.

The U.S. Leadership Accelerator is a good fit for high potential, emerging early-career public health leaders committed to growing their personal and professional development skills. Public health is a broad field and we are excited to consider applicants across sectors – including federally qualified health centers, local health departments or state agencies, government agencies, universities, community-based and non-governmental organizations, and private sector employers.

We value diversity in public health leadership and encourage applicants from all backgrounds, particularly those who bring underrepresented perspectives or lived experiences in navigating health inequities. We especially welcome applications from:
  • Those who work in understaffed, critical areas of the U.S. health system, including:
    • Government agencies
    • Community based-health
    • Health IT
    • Data informatics and analytics
    • Environmental health 
    • Behavioral health 
    • Health communications
To be eligible for the U.S. Leadership Accelerator, you must:
  • Be an emerging leader in public health
  • Be between 21-30 years old by September 1, 2025
  • Live in the U.S. full-time
  • Be authorized to work in the U.S.
  • Work full-time in a U.S.-focused public health role in a non-clinical capacity
  • Have worked in their current role for at least 6 months
  • There are no specific education or training requirements to be eligible for participation.

Based in Sub-Saharan Africa? Learn more about our new Africa Leadership Accelerator.

Eligibility Quiz:

Complete this questionnaire before starting your application to confirm that you meet our eligibility requirements for participation. Eligibility requirements must be met at the time of submitting an application. Please contact [email protected] with any questions regarding eligibility.

EligibilityQuiz Form (#15)

It looks like you meet all our eligibility requirements for the U.S. Fellowship Program! Applications for our 2025-2026 U.S. Fellowship Cohort are now open on a rolling basis with priority consideration given to those who submit an application by March 31st. Final deadline to apply is April 14th. 

You are not eligible for the U.S. Fellowship at this time. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact our team at [email protected]. You can also check out our FAQ page.

If you know someone else who might be interested in applying for this program, please nominate them here.

You are not eligible for the U.S. Fellowship at this time. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact our team at [email protected]. You can also check out our FAQ page.

If you know someone else who might be interested in applying for this program, please nominate them here.

You are not eligible for the U.S. Fellowship at this time. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact our team at [email protected]. You can also check out our FAQ page.

If you know someone else who might be interested in applying for this program, please nominate them here.

You are not eligible for the U.S. Fellowship at this time. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact our team at [email protected]. You can also check out our FAQ page.

If you know someone else who might be interested in applying for this program, please nominate them here.

You are not eligible for the U.S. Fellowship at this time. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact our team at [email protected]. You can also check out our FAQ page.

If you know someone else who might be interested in applying for this program, please nominate them here.

Hear the answers to your most pressing questions directly from U.S. program staff & USLA alumni:

U.S. Leadership Accelerator Overview
U.S. Leadership Accelerator FAQs


Still have questions? Email us at [email protected].

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We’ll send periodic updates from our leaders working on the frontlines of global health around the world and share opportunities to get involved in the movement. 

Global Health Corps is a leadership accelerator mobilizing a powerful network of health equity changemakers, 1200+ strong and growing. 

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