(Birmingham, AL) Professionals from Albuquerque, N.M., to New York City—working across a range of fields, including architecture, education, and government—have been selected to participate in the Culture of Health Leaders program. Working individually and in teams, these leaders will address top-of-mind issues in health and equity, including food systems, racial stress in urban communities, and immigrant trauma.
Three HAP leaders from the Advancing Health Equity (AHE) priority group were among the 40 applicants selected. AHE Chair Dr. Monica Baskin (Professor and Vice Chair for Culture and Diversity, UAB Department of Medicine); AHE Co-Chair Gregory Townsend (Health Service Administrator, Jefferson County Department of Health); and Kadie Peters (Vice President of Community Impact for Health, United Way of Central Alabama), will join Culture of Health Leaders, a new program co-led by the National Collaborative for Health Equity and CommonHealth ACTION with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The team of Baskin, Townsend, and Peters will join leaders from across the country to participate in leadership development training and to collaborate and innovate to solve persistent challenges and advance a Culture of Health—one that places well-being at the center of every aspect of life.
“The inspiration and vision these leaders bring to our program is astounding, and they come at health and equity from every angle,” said Brian Smedley, Culture of Health Leaders co-director and executive director and co-founder of the National Collaborative for Health Equity. “They will redefine the way leaders in every field use their innovation and influence to shatter the status quo on health in our country.”
During the program, team members will develop high-level leadership skills through professional coaching, networking and an advanced leadership curriculum. While participating in the program, they apply new knowledge, competencies, and leadership in the community and field.
“This program gives leaders the opportunity to have even more impact,” said Natalie S. Burke, Culture of Health Leaders co-director and president and CEO of CommonHealth ACTION. “They will gain a very unique experience, allowing them to collaborate and learn from other leaders from many different arenas and immediately apply what they have learned and lead them to substantive and meaningful change.”
Additional partners providing training and coaching to leaders include: American Planning Association, American Public Health Association, Build Healthy Places Network, Center for Creative Leadership, Institute for Alternative Futures, and Leadership Learning Community.