Civic Health Fellowship

The Vot-ER Civic Health Fellowship is designed for nurses, physicians, medical students, social workers, and other health professionals who want to make a bigger impact in their communities. If you've always wanted to knock down the walls between healthcare and civic engagement, this is the program for you!

Learn how to integrate voter access into your healthcare institution and leverage community organizing as a tool to address the political determinants of health.

Application Deadline: March 15, 2023 (Priority) / April 1, 2023 (Final)

Apply Now
Program Brochure

Fellowship Highlights

Organizing 101

Nobel Peace Prize-nominated activist Srdja Popovic and health organizing leader Pedja Stojicic teach tried-and-true organizing tactics that can be used inside and outside of the healthcare system.

All-star guest lecturers

Hear from some of the brightest minds in health equity and civic engagement.

Civic engagement project

Collaborate with healthcare peers to launch a local civic access project at your health institution or school. Past participants have used this space to workshop pitches to hospital leadership, partner with faculty to integrate voter access into the medical school curricula, and more.

Narrative-building workshops

Your story is an incredibly powerful mobilizing tool. Learn how to craft your "public narrative"—what makes you who you are and why you do this work—and how to share it with colleagues, organizational leadership, and the media.

Course Details

Deadline

The priority application deadline is March 15, 2023. The final deadline is April 1, 2023. Apply now.

Faculty

Nobel Peace Prize-nominated activist Srdja Popovic and health organizing leader Pedja Stojicic teach the course, along with a group of all-star guest speakers.

Cost

Our generous sponsors cover most costs; course fees cover the remainder. Last year we did not turn anyone away because of the cost, and everyone who needs help this year will receive an appropriate discount. Please do not let the cost discourage you from applying to the program. If you need financial assistance, select the "Financial Assistance" option on the application.

Course fees are based on a sliding scale. The discounted rate for healthcare professionals who’ve used Vot-ER tools or attended our programs is noted in parentheses.

Community health workers: $10 ($5)
Medical, nursing, or social work students: $100 ($50)
Social workers, nurses, residents, interns, admin staff, and other: $200 ($100)
Physician assistants: $500 ($250)
Attending physicians: $1000 ($500)

Teams

We are accepting a limited number of applicants, and priority will be given to those who apply as part of a team. The fellowship curriculum is intended to be applied to a real-time project. Previous fellows have shared that they benefited most from their time in the fellowship when working as part of a team.

Individual applications are not automatically ineligible, but if you are accepted without a team, we will pair you with other fellows.

Schedule

Classes meet online approximately twice a month on Wednesdays at 6pm ET from April to October 2023.

The total time commitment is 5-10 hours per month, including attending lectures, small group work, and collaborating on team projects.

2023 Civic Health Fellowship

Application

Fill out the form below to access the application and receive e-mail updates about the fellowship. The priority application deadline is March 15, 2023. The final deadline is April 1, 2023.

Fellowship Interest Form

First Name

Last Name

Phone

State

Title or professional background

Other title or professional background

FAQs

Why should I take this course?

We’ve heard from past fellows that this program has connected them to the community of like-minded professionals that they’ve long sought.

Plus, you’ll leave the course with:

Deeper knowledge of health disparities and medical racism—and how we can fight against it in our daily work
Insights into what obstacles affect voter engagement and how to address them
A richer understanding of the relationship between health outcomes and democratic participation
Practical community organizing skills to mobilize colleagues and leaders at your institution or school
Lots of laughs, inside jokes, and most importantly: a network of passionate, like-minded healthcare professionals who, like you, are committed to making a bigger impact in their community

Who teaches this course?

Nobel Peace Prize-nominated activist Srdja Popovic and health organizing leader Pedja Stojicic teach the course, along with a group of all-star guest speakers.

I have another question that isn't answered here.

E-mail Leah Ford at leah@vot-er.org or message us on Twitter and we’ll get back to you right away!

How do I apply for financial aid?

You can indicate on your application that you need financial assistance. Last year we didn’t turn anyone away because of the cost, and we expect that everyone who needs help will receive an appropriate discount.

If you have additional questions about financial assistance, please email Leah Ford, Vot-ER Organizing Director, at leah@vot-er.org

Do I need to have organizing experience?

Nope! Just come ready to learn and collaborate.

Am I eligible for this course?

All healthcare professionals are eligible for the Civic Health Fellowship, including:

Medical, nursing, or social work students
Interns and residents
Fellows
Social Workers
Physicians
Physician Assistants
Nurses
Public health or community health workers

2022 Fellows

Etta Conteh

Medical student

University of Central Florida

Kylar Wiltz

Medical student

Howard University

Stefan Kovac

Medical student

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Elizabeth Crenshaw

Community Health Worker Training Specialist

Wayne State University

Sarah Newman

Nursing Teacher

Orange Technical College

Nicole Biddinger

Physician Assistant

Community Health Connection, Inc

Daniel Orlan

Medical student

Florida International University

Justice Spriggs

Medical student

University of Minnesota

Vineet Raman

Medical student

University of Minnesota

Christopher Davis

Physician

Medical College of Wisconsin/Froedtert

Jazmine Noles

D.O Student

Michigan state University

Kreager Taber

Medical Student

Duke University

Supriya Reddy

Medical Student

University of Missouri-Kansas City

Allysha Bryant

Social Work Intern

Yeshiva University Wurzweiler School of Social Work

Laura B Grogan

Medical Student

Medical College of Wisconsin

Ariana Charnisha Johnson

Alcohol Recovery Mental Health Outreach Coordinator

Northern Ohio Recovery Association

Desiree Edmondson

Medical Student

St. George's University

Diana Tran

PGY2 Family Medicine

Loyola MacNeal Hospital

Carolina Brea

Resident EM

Ohio State University

Breeanna Lorenzen

Intern/Resident

Carolinas Medical Center (Atrium Health)

Neal Sinha

Social Worker

The Pride Center, RECO Intensive, Active Community Health Center

Liz Lendrum

Resident

Cincinnati Children's Medical Center

Hadley Walsh

Medical Student

Wake Forest School of Medicine (Atrium Health)

Imogen Clover-Brown

Resident Physician - PGY1

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Shannon Cunningham

Osteopathic Medical Student

A.T. Still University

Ashish Bibireddy

Medical Student

University of Central Florida

Dorothy Tang

Osteopathic Medical student

A.T. Still University School

Arathi Ponugoti

Medical Student

Duke University

Tyler George

Medical Student

Wake Forest School of Medicine (Atrium Health)

Mara Havard

Medical Student

A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine

Margaret Carney

Resident

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital

Kayla Blanchard

Community Health Worker

Otero County Community Health Council

Carli Zegers

Assistant Professor, School Of Nursing

University of Kansas

Irene Mynatt

Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine

The Ohio State University

Kendra Gantt

Social Worker

Jourdon Robinson

Medical Student

Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Kristen Humphrey

Resident

Cincinnati Children's Hospital

Holly Mata

Board Member

New Mexico Public Health Association

Stacey Bevan

Doctoral student; public health nurse

University of Pennsylvania

Jason H Zibart

Community Connected Health Manager

Benson Hospital

Isaiah A Cochran

FM Resident

Halifax Health FMRP

Jon Kusner

Resident

Duke University

Danielle Casher

Emergency Department Pediatrician

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Rachel Graham

Medical Student

University of Colorado School of Medicine

Carolyn Dixon

Social Worker, Emergency Department

OSU Hospitals Wexner Medical Center

Carlos Rubiano

Physician

Mercy Health

Miguel Angel Blancarte, Jr.

COVID-19, Pandemic Response

Annet Miranda

Associate Director of Community Engagement

Erie Family Health Centers

Anna Jurlina

Medical Student

University of Central Florida

Anna Sicilia

Medical Student

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

J. Aaron Allgood

Chair of Clinical Science Education in IM

A.T. Still University

Claire Abramoff

EM Physician

Einstein Healthcare Network

Libby Ireson

Resident

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Jacqueline Dash

Physician

Einstein Medical Center

Sarah Wright

Social Worker/Emergency Department Behavorial Health

Baystate Medical Center

Monica Patten

Medical Student

University of Colorado School of Medicine

Susan Brown
Family Nurse Practitioner
Oak Street Health; Duke University

Swapna Musunur
Neurology Intern/Resident
Duke University Hospital

Dianne Mack
Social Worker
Creative Social Solutions

Jason Jolley
Social Worker
VA

Casey Berberich
Social Worker
Spectra Health

Craig Burns
Social Worker
Spectra Health

Melissa Schechter
PGY3 OBGYN resident, ACOG Vice Chair District XII
Winnie Palmer Hospital/Orlando Health

Shelby Hartwell
Resident, Ob Gyn
Orlando Health

Kevin Nyabera
Family Medicine Resident
HCDPBC

Tahyri Diaz
Nurse
Texas Health Presbyterian

Omar Sujo
Medical student
Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara

Michael Greenwald
Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Emory University/Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

Brittany R. Cole
Pediatrics Physician
Family Health Centers of Georgia

Cindy Tapia
Nursing Administration, MSN; Risk Manager & Infection Control and Prevention Manage
Benson Hospital & University of Phoenix

Ursala Bowe
Health Council Coordinator
Otero County Community Health Council

Elizabeth Crenshaw
Community Health Worker Training Specialist
Wayne State University

Jourdon Robinson
Medical Student
Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Rachel Flanigan
Pediatric Psychiatry RN
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Nicholas Imperato
Medical student
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Jacqueline Dash
Physician
Einstein Medical Center

Onyinyechi Okpala
Scribe
Jefferson/USF

Lucy Brown
Medical Student
Indiana University School of Medicine

Nishant Pandya
Resident
Yale University

Nikolai Harroun
Medical Student
University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine

Rachel Blake
Medical Student
Howard University College of Medicine

Ann Lites
Medical Student
Howard University College of Medicine

Deandre Tate-Drummer
General Surgery Intern/Resident
Howard University Hospital

Thao Tran
Family Nurse Practitioner
Fresno State

Priscilla Serna
Community Health Connection

Precious Morillon
Family Practice Nurse
Community Health Connection

Leah Upton
Family Medicine Physician
Community Health Connection

Faculty

Srdja Popovic

Founder and Executive Director

Center for Applied Nonviolent Actions and Strategies

Srdja Popovic (he/him) is the Founder and Executive director of the Center for Applied Nonviolent Actions and Strategies (CANVAS), a non-profit organization based in Belgrade, Serbia that aims to teach the use of nonviolence to make a change. Apart from being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012, Popovic is the author of the recent book Blueprint for Revolution.

Dr. Pedja Stojicic

Executive Lead

People Power Health

Dr. Pedja Stojicic (he/him) is passionate about enabling health leaders to use community organizing practices to advocate for equitable health and well-being. He currently serves as an executive lead for People Power Health. Dr. Stojicic is also an instructor for the DrPh Program at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Stojicic completed a fellowship at the Harvard Kennedy School studying Leadership and Organizing with prof. Marshall Ganz and later worked as a member of Ganz’s HKS Teaching Team.

Leah Ford

Organizing Director

Vot-ER

Leah Ford (they/them) is the Organizing Director at Vot-ER. Leah began their organizing journey working on a ballot initiative campaign and leading issue advocacy campaigns around reproductive health/rights in Tennessee. Most recently, Leah served as the Campaign Manager for a state legislative candidate who made healthcare access a central part of her platform, helping her to secure a strong primary win. In 2021, Leah was honored to be named as a member of the Memphis Flyer’s 20 Under 30.

Brian Archie

Co-Chair

Create a Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative

Brian Archie (he/him) is co-chair and change agent for the Create a Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Human Rights Commission for the city of Niagara Falls, works in patient financial services at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center and is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Business with a focus in Project Management. Brian was born and raised in Niagara Falls, and currently lives in the North End/Highland area.

Aliya Bhatia

Executive Director

Vot-ER

Aliya Bhatia (she/her) is the Executive Director at Vot-ER. She previously worked at the crossroads of education, housing, and health & wellness at Purpose Built Communities. Aliya has worked in education from early childhood through workforce development, starting with her 11th grade math classroom in New Orleans. She has also consulted to major nonprofits and supported corporate diversity & inclusion efforts through her work at the Boston Consulting Group.