Champion Spotlight: Health Equity Leadership Diversity Initiative

The Social Mission Champion series (formerly the Social Mission Ally series) highlights the important work done by those who are engaging in social mission by advancing health equity and addressing the health disparities of the society in which it exists.

This month, we spoke with Maria Portela MD, MPH, the Director of the Office of Minority Health (OMH) Health Equity Leadership Development Initiative (HELDI). This residential fellowship program is committed to diversifying leadership in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by providing fellows training, mentorship, and HHS agency placement.

Read below for our interview with Dr. Portela to learn more about the fellowship program.

Q&A

Why was Health Equity Leadership Development Initiative formed?

In 2021, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) released a call for proposals to establish a program to help train minority health equity leaders that may pursue public service careers in HHS. At the Fitzhugh Mullan Workforce Institute for Health Equity, developing and diversifying our health equity leadership workforce is something we are deeply committed to. We were thrilled to apply and be awarded the opportunity to lead this fellowship in partnership with the HHS Office of Minority Health.

In 2022, we trained our first cohort of the Minority Leaders Development Program and since then we have developed the program further and are recruiting for our current fellowship program Health Equity Leadership Development Initiative (HELDI) for the 2024-2025 cohort.

How does OMH HELDI promote diversity in public health and health equity federal leadership and why is this effort important?

The Health Equity Leadership Development Initiative is a tool to address a gap in federal fellowship opportunities for individuals interested in working at HHS to advance health equity and address the social determinants of health through health policies, programs and practices. It enhances skills and competencies necessary for federal leadership service among participants through:

1. A curriculum focused on health care policy, leadership skill building and health equity, that aligns with federal government leadership core competencies (leading change, leading people, results driven, business acumen, and building coalitions);
2. Experiential placement in an HHS agency and
3. Supplemental learning opportunities, coaching and  mentorship.

The Health Equity Leadership Development Initiative supports efforts to promote diversity, including racial and ethnic minorities, in leadership positions within HHS agencies by providing professional development and career opportunities. Reducing and eliminating health disparities as well as diversifying our workforce are critical steps toward promoting and achieving health equity and health equity. 

During the first year of OMH HELDI, what were the program’s successes?

HELDI  is a young fellowship program, but already, our fellows are engaging in health equity work on a federal level. 100% of our graduating fellows that applied to a federal government position secured a role within a year. Four out of six of our fellows are currently working in the federal government and three of them work within the Department of Human Health and Services.

Anything more you would like to share about the HELDI program?

Yes! Our fellowship program is open to the public for applications and the deadline is January 16th! This is a residential full-time paid program for diverse applicants that will increase their knowledge, skills, and provide a unique placement in a HHS agency during your fellowship year. For full eligibility details please visit our website at https://www.gwhwi.org/omh-mldp.html.

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Social Mission Alliance would like to thank Maria Portela MD, MPH, the Director of the Office of Minority Health (OMH) Health Equity Leadership Development Initiative (HELDI), and the greater OMH HELDI team, for taking the time to talk with us and for their continued commitment to social mission.