Our Impact
For 10 years, Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity has brought together leaders from around the world who are committed to advancing health equity in their communities.
The fellowship helps them turn that commitment into action, building leaders and creating a global community to advance the work into the future. Fellows learn alongside peers from diverse disciplines, sectors and experiences, building the relationships and skills needed to create lasting change.
As we celebrate our 10-year anniversary, we honor a decade of leadership, learning, and collective action while looking ahead to the next decade of advancing health equity together.
35
Countries
40+ Million
Total People Impated
151
Current & Senior Fellows
Voices of Equity
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The fellowship has allowed us to drill down to find the solutions through the most difficult challenges.
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I think the power of narrative, the authentic storytelling, it's something that has really helped not only me, but also my team members.
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I commit to come back to spaces of inequity, to see it, to understand it, navigate it, and also explore ways that I can contribute to reshaping it
Community Stories
Voices of Equity
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Collective action really drives change and collective action happens when there is a defined purpose that people agree upon.
Future of Health Equity
To close the gaps in life expectancy and health equity that exist within and between countries, we need leaders who view health equity as a mindset and the reduction of health disparities as a skill set. Yet these approaches have not traditionally been part of the education and training of physicians, nurses and other health sector leaders.
Recognizing this gap, Drs. Fitzhugh Mullan and Guenevere Burke, alongside colleagues at the GW Institute for Health Workforce Equity, created the Leaders for Health Equity (LHE) fellowship program, now Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity.
Ten years and more than 150 fellows later, we have deepened our commitment to innovation and sustainability, while holding on to the values that got us here. The strength of the fellowship has never been in a single convening or program, but in the relationships and the way this community rallies around one another in moments of celebration and in periods of struggle.
We invite you to reflect with us as we highlight the moments we’ve shared together.
March
The Atlantic Philanthropies provided the funding that made the Leaders for Health Equity program possible, reflecting its long-standing commitment to improving access to quality health care, supporting leadership development, and advancing health equity by investing in leaders capable of driving lasting change.
July
We brought on Selam Bedada as our first full-time staff member, beginning a leadership journey that would later lead to her appointment as Program Director. She has since played a crucial role in every aspect of the AFHE fellowship experience, from recruitment and selection to creating a thriving Senior Fellow community.
Jan
We welcomed our first class of 15 fellows from Brazil, India, the Philippines, Uganda and the United States at our inaugural Initial Convening. Together, they built a shared foundation for learning, leadership and community as they began their fellowship journey.
Feb
We launched our curriculum with health equity and leadership learning directors Seble Frehywot and Kate Hilton. The 2017 cohort engaged deeply through both in-person convenings and a robust online curriculum that connects fellows throughout the year.
June
Our first Mid Year Convening, held in Rwanda at the University of Global Health Equity, marked the first time fellows traveled outside the United States together as a cohort. The Mid Year Convening explores global approaches to health equity, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries.
Nov
The inaugural cohort graduated during our Final Convening in Washington, D.C. The event also featured the first Equity Talks, which are brief, TED-style presentations that remain a defining part of the fellowship experience. With graduation, the cohort became our first Senior Fellows, establishing an alumni community that continues to result in vibrant relationships and impactful collaborations.
Dec
Our first fellows helped recruit the next cohort, beginning a tradition of connection and mentorship between current and Senior Fellows that continues to result in vibrant relationships and impactful collaborations.
Jan
We welcomed our second cohort with fellows from Argentina, India, the Philippines, Sierra Leone and the United States growing our community to 30 fellows. Together, our current and Senior Fellows reflected our commitment to bringing together leaders from the many sectors that shape health and well-being, including law, economics, medicine, dentistry, nursing, community organizing, data science and public health management.
April
Current and Senior Fellows came together for our first All-Fellows Convening at the Beyond Flexner Conference in Atlanta, creating new opportunities for connection, learning, and collaboration that helped to establish our passion for bringing fellows together in person.
August
The Leaders for Health Equity joined the global Atlantic Fellows community and became Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity (AFHE) U.S. + Global. An additional $18 million investment from The Atlantic Philanthropies expanded our reach and strengthened our capacity to support health equity leaders worldwide.
Jan
We welcomed our third cohort and the first under our new name, Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity U.S. + Global. Expanded support from The Atlantic Philanthropies increased our international representation and strengthened our ability to address health equity challenges across borders with fellows from Ghana, Iraq, Malawi, Nigeria, the Philippines, India and the United States working in mental health, social work, art, public health, health policy, medicine, dentistry and nursing
April
The George Washington University renamed the GW Health Workforce Institute as the Fitzhugh Mullan Institute for Health Workforce Equity, honoring AFHE co-founder Dr. Fitzhugh Mullan and his lifelong commitment to social justice, health equity and health workforce policy.
Juy
Fellows from the 2017 and 2018 cohorts joined more than 100 Senior Fellows from all seven Atlantic Fellows programs for the inaugural Global Atlantic Fellows Convening in Oxford, building meaningful connections across cultures, disciplines and lived experiences.
Nov
We lost one of our founding leaders and strongest advocates, Dr. Fitzhugh Mullan. His vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment to health equity helped shape AFHE from its earliest days and continues to guide our work today.
Jan
We established the AFHE Charter Committee and convened it for the first time. Composed of leaders committed to health equity, education, social change, and reducing health disparities, the committee helps guide the fellowship's continued growth and development.
Feb
Like communities around the world, our fellowship was tested by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 cohort et in person only once before lockdowns and travel restrictions shifted the remainder of the fellowship online, calling in from India, Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Trinidad & Tobago, Uganda and the United States.
April
Many current and Senior Fellows also received COVID-19 solidarity grants from the Atlantic Institute to support their communities' response efforts, responding to the scale and severity of the pandemic and its impacts emotionally, physically and economically.
July
We established the Senior Fellow Advisory Board (SFAB) composed of graduated fellows who work closely with the AFHE Senior Fellow Engagement Team to build a vibrant and connected community of Senior Fellows and to ensure Senior Fellow initiatives remain responsive to the needs of our growing community.
Oct
As the COVID-19 pandemic continued, we adapted our programming to meet the evolving needs of fellows and expanded support for communities facing ongoing challenges. We created two new roles — Senior Fellow Faculty and Senior Fellow Lead — to strengthen engagement across our growing Senior Fellow community and support opportunities for learning, collaboration and collective impact. With much of our programming still online, we hosted webinars and community mingles on topics ranging from COVID-19 and global health to music, joy and wellness. We created two new roles — Senior Fellow Faculty and Senior Fellow Lead — to strengthen engagement across our growing Senior Fellow community and support opportunities for learning, collaboration and collective impact.
Nov
Even amid isolation and uncertainty, fellows continued to lead and collaborate. Six Fellows created the COVID Health Animation Project, using culturally tailored animated content to combat misinformation and promote healthy behaviors in underserved communities. The videos reached more than 1.5 million people.
May
The 2021 cohort became the first to begin their fellowship journey virtually, joining from Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Haiti, Iraq, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Peru, Sudan and the United States, working in mental health, maternal health, rural and refugee health, pediatrics, urban development, veteran’s health, epidemiology, conflict resolution, health financing, social work, psychology, public health, health policy, medicine, dentistry and engineering
Feb
We held our first Senior Fellow Convening, bringing together current and Senior Fellows to explore health through the lens of gender, sexuality, and identity in Miami. Together, fellows explored issues around women’s health, LGBTQ health, gender-based violence, and transformative grassroots efforts that are addressing inequities in these spaces.
April
The 2021 cohort gathered for an in-person Final Convening and graduation, deepening relationships formed during a largely virtual fellowship year before joining our Senior Fellow community.
Sept
We launched our Thematic Convening model in Thessaloniki, Greece, with a convening focused on displacement and health. Designed for Senior Fellows, these intensive learning experiences combine deep exploration of pressing health equity issues with collective action and collaboration. The convening inspired a range of projects, including opinion pieces, educational resources, training modules, and a children's book, demonstrating how learning and relationships formed during the week can translate into lasting impact.
Jan
We welcomed our sixth cohort, bringing together leaders from Canada, Belgium, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, India, Kenya, Mexico, Mauritius, Nigeria, Palestine, the Philippines and the United States working across fields including community health, journalism, law, medicine, psychology, research, social work, LGBTQ+ health, and the arts.
Aug
We launched the AFHE Collaboration Fund to bring Senior Fellows together to build on one another’s expertise, pursue shared ideas, and turn collaboration into collective action.
Sept
Senior Fellows gathered in Havana, Cuba, for a Senior Fellow Convening. In partnership with Care Lab, fellows engaged directly with Cuban residents and entrepreneurs, exploring themes of entrepreneurship, equity, and social justice through community-based learning experiences.
Nov
The 2023 cohort completed its fellowship journey in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This was our first Final Convening held outside the United States, reflecting our commitment to becoming a truly global fellowship.
Jan
We welcomed our seventh cohort, bringing together leaders from Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Switzerland, Uganda, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Zambia, working across data science, economics, epidemiology, government, health policy, law, medicine and nursing.
Feb
We transitioned from Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity U.S. + Global to Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity Global to reflect the increasingly international nature of our fellowship community and work.
April
We accepted the 2024 Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation Award for Program Excellence in Social Mission, recognizing our innovative and interdisciplinary approach to developing health equity leaders. We were proud to receive this recognition because it reflects what we see every day across the AFHE community: meaningful change happens when people with different experiences, expertise, and perspectives come together with a shared commitment to health equity.
Sept
We hosted our second Thematic Convening in Lima, Peru, focused on community health. In partnership with Socios En Salud, Senior Fellows explored the role of community health workers and learned from community-driven approaches to improving health outcomes.
Oct
We celebrated a leadership transition, naming Selam Bedada as Program Director and Guenevere Burke as Executive Director. Together, they are leading AFHE into its next chapter, with Selam strengthening the fellowship and Senior Fellow community and Guen expanding our reach, deepening partnerships, and creating new opportunities for our community to connect, collaborate, and advance health equity together.
Nov
We traveled to Oceania for the first time as a fellowship, hosting our Final Convening in Rotorua, Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Dec
We supported fellows in organizing an International Day of Persons with Disabilities webinar, Transformative Solutions for Inclusive Development, highlighting how innovation can advance accessibility, inclusion and health equity.
Jan
We welcomed our eighth cohort, bringing together leaders from Ethiopia, India, Iraq, Malawi, Malaysia, South Africa, Switzerland, Uganda, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Fellows brought expertise across community engagement, disability and accessibility, engineering, gender-based violence prevention and response, maternal and child health, nursing, population health, sexual and reproductive health, and transgender health.
April
Senior Fellows gathered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, bringing the strength, diversity, and collective expertise of the AFHE community to life. From keynote reflections and panel discussions to facilitation and planning, Senior Fellows shaped the convening at every level, demonstrating the power of a community that learns from one another and leads together.
Sept
We honored the life and legacy of Felicia Mburu, a member of our 2023 cohort and a tireless advocate for disability inclusion, gender equity and human rights. Her leadership and impact continue to inspire our community.
Oct
We launched a partnership with BMJ Leader to bring Fellows’ Equity Talks to a global audience through a dedicated blog series, amplifying the ideas, expertise, and perspectives shaping health equity across our community and beyond.
Nov
The 2025 cohort gathered in Iloilo, Philippines, for their Final Convening and graduation. Developed in partnership with Senior Fellows from the Philippines, the week offered an opportunity to reflect, connect, and celebrate all they had learned and contributed throughout the year.
Dec
We published An Interdisciplinary, Global Approach to Health Equity Leadership: Lessons From the Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity in Academic Medicine, sharing what we’ve learned from building an interdisciplinary, global community of health equity leaders and how Fellows are translating that experience into action in communities around the world.
Jan
We welcomed our ninth cohort, representing Australia, Bhutan, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Fellows brought experience across health economics, mental health, youth development, community health, oncology, nursing, food security, social work, education, nephrology and occupational health.
Feb
We launched a refreshed curriculum informed by nearly a decade of learning and designed to meet the evolving needs of health equity leaders. The update deepened our focus on innovation and sustainability, two themes fellows consistently identified as critical to advancing lasting change.
May
We hosted our third Thematic Convening in Sweden, bringing Senior Fellows together to explore sustainability, innovation, and collaboration. Through site visits and dialogue with local leaders, fellows examined Nordic approaches to gender equity, refugee and migrant health, universal healthcare, climate innovation, and community development, while reflecting on how these lessons could inform their work.
June
The 2026 Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity cohort traveled to Ghana for their Mid Year Convening, the first time we have visited Ghana as a program. From engaging with local health leaders and visiting community health centers to exploring Ghana's history and witnessing community-driven solutions in action, fellows gained new perspectives on what it takes to advance health equity in different contexts.
