The room buzzed with energy as the emerging public health leaders that make up GHC’s 2025-2026 U.S. Leadership Accelerator cohort gathered for the Leadership Storytelling session. Throughout the session, fellows reflected on the values and experiences that shaped their public health journeys and how those experiences impacted their leadership trajectory. Laughter, thoughtful questions, and moments of vulnerability filled the space, setting the tone for four days of community-building and collaborative learning.
When GHC brought our fellows together for their fall retreat in Dallas, it wasn’t about adding lines to a résumé. It was about redefining leadership and who it’s for. Fellow Makenzie Lyon described the experience as a reminder of “the power of connection, vulnerability, and shared purpose.”
The retreat centered on GHC’s Authentic Leadership framework, which challenges fellows to lead others by first understanding themselves. Workshops on values clarification, giving and receiving feedback, and self-compassion helped participants uncover not just how they lead, but why.
Leadership lessons weren’t confined to the conference space. Fellows visited Restorative Farms, a South Dallas nonprofit addressing food insecurity through urban agriculture. Walking through rows of vegetables and meeting community partners, they saw firsthand how collaboration can transform a neighborhood. Dallas-based fellow Ariel Austin shared it was “inspiring to see what’s possible when community, collaboration, and purpose come together.” The visit underscored a core principle of leadership: it’s not just about what happens in clinics and hospitals, but about understanding communities’ lived experiences and working alongside them to create sustainable change.
The retreat culminated in “Catalyzing Next Gen Public Health Leaders in DFW,” a public event GHC hosted at Pegasus Park that brought together leaders from hospitals, universities, and grassroots organizations to reflect on collaboration, mentorship, and building a healthier region.
During the first panel, “Bridging the Gap for a Healthier DFW,” DFW Health Council’s Steve Love, Texas Woman’s University Dr. Catrine Tudor-Locke, and Mind Your Garden’s Steven and Ursula Nuñez, discussed breaking down silos between sectors, while emphasizing that effective solutions begin locally with trust and lived experience.
One of the evening’s most memorable moments came when fellow Paulina Silva, a Community Health Coordinator at the American Heart Association, sat down with her supervisor, Bry Mabry, Senior Director of Community Impact, to discuss mentorship. Paulina noted that true mentorship “isn’t about hierarchy or titles but about co-creating change and lifting others as you lead.” Bry reflected on the opportunity, saying she already envisions this group of young professionals as “bold leaders — the leaders our public health future will need and appreciate.” Their conversation captured GHC’s mission of fostering leaders who lead from authenticity rather than authority.
Dallas-Fort Worth is one of the fastest-growing regions in the U.S., yet demand for a skilled public health workforce continues to outpace supply. With more than half of residents under 35, the urgency to invest in emerging leaders has never been greater.
This year, with generous support from Lyda Hill Philanthropies, the Hersh Foundation, and David and Carolyn Miller, GHC launched a dedicated Dallas mini-cohort of five fellows: Abena Marfo, Adriana Beekman, Ariel Austin, Isra Merchant, and Paulina Silva. Throughout the program, GHC will equip these fellows with the tools, mentorship, and networking to deepen their impact at organizations like Prism Health North Texas, Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center, Moncrief Cancer Institute at UT Southwestern Medical Center, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, and the American Heart Association. This concentrated approach allows them to collaborate closely, share resources, and drive collective impact across the region’s health ecosystem, modeling how cities can future-proof their systems by investing in the next generation of leaders.
Looking ahead, GHC is aspiring to grow its fellow numbers in Dallas and build a thriving community of practice, bringing together fellows and alumni to strengthen local health systems and drive lasting, equitable impact.
As the retreat came to a close, the energy in the room was palpable. Fellows exchanged ideas, shared insights, and left feeling more supported than ever. Makenzie summed up the experience: she left with “new tools, deeper self-awareness, and lifelong friendships that fuel my commitment to this work.”
In Dallas, that journey is already underway one leader at a time.