Last week, Global Health Corps brought together the 2024-2025 cohort of U.S. Leadership Accelerator fellows in Atlanta for an energizing multi-day retreat to celebrate the end of their fellowship. Against the backdrop of national uncertainty in public health funding and increasing challenges facing marginalized communities, this retreat served as a bold reminder of what is possible when emerging leaders come together to learn, grow, and lead with courage.
The retreat kicked off with a dynamic public panel, “Navigating the Now: Leadership, Resilience & Action in Public Health,” featuring leaders across sectors who are guiding teams and communities through adversity. Panelists offered candid insights about learning from failure, leading through crisis, and integrating mental health practices into public health systems. The conversation resonated deeply with attendees, many of whom are navigating leadership in a climate of unpredictability and pressure.
One recurring theme emerged: resilient leadership isn’t about having all the answers, but about being present, adaptive, and deeply human.
Following the panel, our fellows spent the weekend engaging in a thoughtfully designed curriculum tailored to the realities of public health leadership today. Across sessions on leadership storytelling, resilience practices, career visioning, and more, fellows reflected on their own leadership journeys and built practical tools to move forward with clarity and confidence.
From hands-on workshops to reflective journaling and peer dialogue, fellows explored questions like:
- How do I lead with purpose in the face of burnout?
- What does sustainable impact look like in my career?
- How can I tell my story in a way that moves others to action?
In the words of one fellow: “This retreat reminded me that I’m not alone in this work. It helped me reconnect with why I do what I do, and what kind of leader I want to be moving forward.”
Beyond skill-building, the retreat fostered something just as essential: community. Fellows spent unstructured time connecting over shared meals, city walks, and spontaneous storytelling. The result was a deepened sense of trust and belonging—both of which are cornerstones of enduring leadership.
At a time when public health professionals are being asked to do more with less, creating space for connection, joy, and mutual support is not just a luxury, it’s a necessity. Our U.S. fellows represent the future of health leadership: diverse in background, bold in vision, and united by a commitment to equity. They are community health workers, policy makers, researchers, and advocates working on the front lines of public health equity—from expanding access to reproductive health, to strengthening mental health systems, to organizing communities for systemic change.
Their leadership couldn’t come at a more crucial time. Amid ongoing uncertainty, this retreat was a moment to pause, reflect, and recommit to the work ahead. Fellows left Atlanta grounded in their purpose, fortified by new tools and relationships, and ready to lead with renewed conviction.