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Student Leader Fellow: Deadline Approaching

Posted about 4 years ago by Camille Dyer

STUDENT LEADER FELLOWSHIP

JOINTLY OFFERED BY THE AFRICAN HERITAGE AND THE LBGT PA CAUCUSES. FUNDED BY THE LBGT PA CAUCUS.

 

Are you a LGBT PA student of African heritage - or know of a student- who is interested in

  • Service through Leadership
  • Being a good steward of the PA profession
  • Being a Change Agent in Healthcare
  • Improving Organizational Culture wherever PAs, PA Students and especially Patients are found
  • Developing your professional network

Then... 

Consider applying for this Student Leader Fellowship, jointly offered by the LBGT PA and African Heritage Caucuses.

 

Purpose

"There is no thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives." -- Audre Lorde

The purpose of the fellowship is for leaders in medicine to reflect the communities we serve.  When the first few cohorts of the LBGT PA Caucus Student Leaders Fellowship were each appointed or elected to serve in a board leadership role within 3 years of graduation, we realized the fellowship's potential, as well as it's gaps - no alumni identified as black or of African heritage. This jointly-sponsored fellowship was piloted in 2020 in the hopes that, together, we can support PA students who identify as black or of African heritage, as well as LGBT, and who desire service through leadership.

 

Travel Stipend

"We are all one - and if we don't know it, we will learn it the hard way." -- Bayard Rustin

A $1000 travel stipend is available to offset the cost of attending AAPA's annual conference in May. Failure to attend the AAPA annual conference results in forfeiture of the travel stipend. Attendance at the AAPA's Leadership and Advocacy Summit (LAS) in March 2021 is recommended but not required. Funding is guaranteed for the 2020-21 fellowship term and will be distributed at the conference.

 

Fellowship Term

"I find I am constantly being encouraged to pluck out some one aspect of myself and present this as the meaningful whole, eclipsing or denying the other parts of self." -- Audre Lorde

The Fellowship term begins in April 2020 with the fellow's presence on the LBGT PA Caucus HOD Task Force conference calls, in person presence in May 2020  at the AAPA annual conference, and continues with one call each month with a PA mentor through June 2021. 

Mentors include

and 8 other graduate PAs who get you!!

 

Eligibility

"If we want to do away with the injustice to gays it will not be done because we get rid of the injustice to gays. It will be done because we are forwarding the effort for the elimination of injustice to all. And we will win the rights for gays, or blacks, or Hispanics, or women within the context of whether we are fighting for all." -- Bayard Rustin

Applicants must be openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or gender diverse student members of the LBGT PA Caucus who also identify as black or of African heritage, and who are currently enrolled in an accredited PA program at the time of the application deadline.  Priority is given to student members who are actively involved with the Caucuses.

Selection criteria include, but are not limited to:  emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills, judgement, integrity, character (collaborative, courage, humility), attitudes and beliefs about intersectionality involving sexual orientation and gender identity/expression (SOGIE), racial and other identities.

Fellows are are chosen through a competitive selection process that considers an essay and a personal interview.  Letters of recommendation from faculty are optional.

PRIOR APPLICANTS TO THE LBGT PA STUDENT LEADER FELLOWSHIP WHO MEET THESE CRITERIA ARE AUTOMATICALLY CONSIDERED. THERE IS NO NEED TO RESUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION.

 

Expectations

"Without the community, there is no liberation." -- Audre Lorde

  • Attend at least one of the LBGT PA Caucus HOD Task Force calls prior to the AAPA meeting in May, 2020.
  • Attend the AAPA Conference in May 2020 and participate in active involvement in the Caucuses' activities as assigned during the conference, such as: 
      • hosting the Exhibit Hall booths for a portion of each day during the exhibit hall sessions
      • attending all meetings and receptions
      • attending the House of Delegates daily with a mentor
  • Participate in one 30-minute call with a fellowship mentor, each month between July 1 and June 30
  • Author an personal essay of 300-350 words about your conference experience for the AHC newsletter "The Drum" and for distribution by the LBGT PA Caucus throughout the Caucus media channels, within 90 days after attending conference
  • Call in to a minimum of 50% of LBGT PA & AHC board conference calls during the Caucus leadership term (July-June)
  • Alumni are expected to provide an exit interview at the conclusion of their fellowship term, and to leave the ladder down by serving as a mentor to future fellows in 1 or more of the 3 years following graduation (this involve a 30-minute call with the fellow)
  • Other activities that may be defined later, such as serving to promote the fellowship, and encouraging engagement by potential applicants
  • Remain in good academic standing

 

Instructions

 "Sometimes we are blessed with being able to choose the time, and the arena, and the manner of our revolution, but more usually we must do battle where we are standing." -- Audre Lorde

Applicants must:

1. Write an essay of 1-3 pages (typed, double spaced, 12 point font, 1” margins) including the following details:

  • Tell us how you have personally dealt with intolerance or discrimination towards you or a friend based on sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, and/or racial identity. Are you satisfied with how you handled it, and if not, how might you have responded differently?
  • Address any issues which arose prior to or after enrollment in PA School that make you want to serve in leadership as a practicing PA.
  • Tell us what you hope to achieve through your involvement with this Student Leaders Fellowship.
  • Tell us how you propose to contribute to achieving the mission & vision of the Caucuses as a graduate PA leader.
  • Discuss your professional goals as a graduate PA leader and how they relate to your experience as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or nonbinary person of African heritage.
  • Tell us about your financial need for this award, if any.

 

2. Participate in an online interview.

3. A letter of recommendation from faculty is OPTIONAL.

4. Email completed AHC/LBGT PA Caucus Student Leader Fellowship Application, essay, and any other attachments to info@lbgtpa.org

 

Deadline

Applications are due by 11:59 PM EST on February 15, 2020..