Sustainable Healthcare Leadership Institute

For our inaugural cohort, the Sustainable Healthcare Leadership Institute is recruiting 30 healthcare professionals from across the spectrum of healthcare roles and settings who currently hold or seek sustainability leadership positions within their healthcare institutions. 

Required:

• Institutional Support (see Letter of Institutional Support for supervisors)

• Commitment to attend in-person retreat in Boulder, Colorado (October 21-25, 2025)

• Commitment to attend monthly group meetings, and monthly webinars (~2 hour monthly commitment)

• Commitment to fulfill all program assignments, including personal leadership action plans. 

Ideal Candidates:

• Mid-career professionals (5+ years post-experience) in clinical or administrative roles

• Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, facility managers, supply chain leaders, executives, quality improvement leads, and other specialists

• Professionals who currently hold sustainability responsibilities or are strategically positioned to develop new sustainability initiatives

• Individuals with demonstrated leadership potential and institutional influence

• Professionals from diverse backgrounds, specialties, and healthcare settings (FQHC’s academic medical centers, private healthcare systems)

There are two main application components:

• Completed application detailing professional background and sustainability interests

• Signed Letter of Institutional Support

Timeline:

• Applications open: April 15, 2025

• Application deadline: July, 1 2025

• Cohort selection announced: August 1, 2025

• Program begins: September 2025

There is a $1200 participation fee that covers food and lodging for the October retreat (excludes travel) and 10 months of twice per month workshops and coaching. Roundtrip airfare, ground transportation and miscellaneous expenses are NOT included.

Through generous support from The Commonwealth Fund, the Institute offers scholarships covering program fees, travel, and accommodation expenses for the Boulder retreat to:

• Candidates working in safety-net hospitals and federally qualified health centers

• Individuals serving vulnerable communities disproportionately affected by climate impacts

• What are the requirements to apply?

  • To apply we ask that you are a midcareer health professional from the United States or Canada currently employed within a health system. The application requires a completed application, a signed letter of support from a senior member of your healthcare system, and your CV. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

• What kind of time commitment is involved?

  • If you are accepted into the program, you will need to be available for two 90 minute webinars before the retreat in September and October 2025, the entire in-person retreat from October 21-25, and approximately two hours per month of synchronous group meetings and mentorship sessions and asynchronous learning modules.

• What if I have to miss a meeting/can’t attend the retreat?

  • While we understand that last-minute schedule changes happen, program participants are expected to attend >90% of program meetings. We will work with program participants to schedule monthly meetings at times that are conducive to your schedules. However, the retreat is a mandatory and integral component of the program and cannot be missed.

• Do you accept international applicants?

  • Due to the tailored focus on domestic health policy, we are only able to accommodate applicants from the United States. We encourage you to explore our other global course offerings.

• How much does the fellowship cost?

  • The program costs $1200 to participate. This fee includes meals and lodging at the October kickoff retreat as well as all of the webinars, skill workshops, and leadership coaching. It does not include travel or flights to the retreat. 

• I already know exactly the initiative I want to implement. Is this program for me?

  • Yes! The program will help you further hone your project and will equip you with the skills and knowledge to enact your initiative. The structure of the program will expose you to additional technical and advocacy tools that can expand your project in unexpected ways.

• I have no clue what sustainability initiative I want to implement. Is this program for me?

  • Yes! While we hope you will use the prompts on the application to start to brainstorm well-scoped, impactful initiatives that could be transformative for your health system, we expect that many participants will need additional guidance selecting, planning, pitching, and enacting their sustainability initiative. However, ideal applicants will have experience addressing sustainability improvements within their health system.

•  I am interested in participating but I suspect my organization will not be onboard. Can I still join?

  • No. Institutional support is an essential component of the program and sponsors are expected to attend the initial orientation as well as to help foster an enabling environment for program participants. Applicants must submit a letter of support signed by a senior member of the health system staff (a supervisor, department chair, or C-suite member). If you have questions about this requirement or if your supervisor would like to speak with Dr. Cecilia Sorensen about the role and expectations of sponsors, they can reach out to the program coordinator Maggie O’Donnell at mo3040@cumc.columbia.ed

• Does this count as CME?

  • We will not be offering CME credits to participants. However, we encourage you to explore options within your health system to apply any CME funds to cover program fees.