Leadership
Fellowship
Empowering Hispanic Physician Leaders to Transform Healthcare
The Leadership Fellowship consists of two training programs: The Leadership Fellowship established in 1999 and the Leadership Fellows Alumni Network established in 2025.
Sponsored by Health Net/Centene Corp., the NHHF California Leadership Fellowship is a one-year executive training program designed to prepare Hispanic physicians for high-impact leadership roles across the healthcare system. The program supports career advancement in sectors such as:
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- State and City Health Departments
- Academic medicine
- Federal health clinics
- Private practice
The Leadership Fellowship addresses the critical underrepresentation of Hispanic physicians in decision-making roles that influence the health of underserved communities. Through leadership development, policy engagement, and a strong network of stakeholders, the program cultivates change agents who will drive equitable health policies and improve access to care.
Fellows gain hands-on experience, build leadership skills, and join a growing network of professionals committed to transforming public and private healthcare system
2026 California
Leadership Fellowship
Program Date:
Washington DC Institute
September 14th – 18th, 2026
PROGRAM DEADLINE: 01/08/27, at 11:59 PM(Midnight)
How the Program Started
Jo Ivey Boufford, MD, and Elena Rios, MD, MSPH, MACP established the original Leadership Fellowship in 1999 under a Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and continued with support from various funders and, most recently, the Centene Foundation and Centene/Health Net. Faculty include healthcare experts from various leadership positions at the state and federal levels.
Core Faculty
Elena Rios, MD, MSPH, MACP
President
National Hispanic Health Foundation
Jo Ivey Boufford, MD
Clinical Professor of Global Health
NYU School of Global Public Health
Policy Coaches
Katherine Flores, MD
Associate Director
UCSF Latinx Center of Excellence
David R. Campa, MD, MPH
Senior Medical Director, Quality and Equity | Health Equity and Quality Transformation (EQT) Division
Covered California
WINTER
Eligibility & Applications
Eligibility for the NHHF Leadership Fellowship includes being a mid-career (at least five years post-training), a Hispanic licensed physician who has documented leadership activities, interest in future decision-making positions, and a demonstrated commitment to improving the health of Hispanics. NHHF is seeking applicants for the upcoming class. If interested, please send your resume, personal statement, and one letter of recommendation to the Selection Committee at NHHF@NHHFx.org. Applications are due in January.
SPRING
Sacramento Institute
In the second quarter, fellows attend a four-day retreat at the Sacramento Institute, featuring orientation, leadership seminars, and meetings with California Health and Human Services, state legislators, and policymakers. They explore Hispanic health policy history, leadership styles, and collaborate on policy analysis teams to develop recommendations on NHHF advocacy priorities, including medical education diversity and women’s reproductive health.
SUMMER
Virtual Institute
From mid-May to mid-July, the NHHF fellows participate in 12 hours of virtual training seminars facilitated by Core Faculty. These sessions consist of expert speakers from public health, media, advocacy, and leaders from different stakeholders in the public health arena, and they address leadership skills and health disparities in the Hispanic community.
FALL
Washington D.C. Institute
In September, fellows attend a four-day Washington, DC Institute featuring seminars with the White House, U.S. Health and Human Services, and Congressional policymakers to discuss Hispanic public health initiatives. The program includes leadership development sessions on conflict management and policy analysis projects, and concludes with participation in Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute events to engage with Members of Congress and national Hispanic leaders.
Leadership Fellows Alumni Network
The Leadership Fellows Alumni Network represents the Physicians Fellows who participated in the Leadership Fellowship executive training program since the 1999 cohort and our partners — the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Office of Minority Health, NHMA, NHHF, Johnson and Johnson, Komen Foundation, Pfizer Inc, The California Wellness Foundation and the Centene Foundation.