Health Equity Leadership & Mentoring Program
Mission Statement
To enhance the academic excellence, leadership capacity, and career success of early-career scholars at the University of Minnesota whose work focuses on health disparities and related research or clinical care.
The Health Equity Leadership and Mentoring (HELM) Program has successfully served more than 130 University of Minnesota faculty and post-docs since its inception in 2014. HELM fosters leadership and career development among early-career scholars who are committed to improving disparate health outcomes through research and/or clinical care. Please see this recent publication about HELM to learn more about the program.
Thank you to all of our HELM Fellows who have made this program a success over the past decade! We also thank the Program in Health Disparities Research, the Department of Medicine, the Office of Faculty Affairs, and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Medical School for their sustained financial support of the program.
Questions? Please email [email protected].
About the Program
The application window for the 2025-2026 term of the HELM Program is now closed. Please recheck our website in fall 2026 for updates on future opportunities.
Our Fellows
Program Components
- Seminar Series Sessions: Monthly seminars include topics focused on career development and leadership skills, as well as practical strategies for enhancing career success and satisfaction. The content is curated for early career scholars with a strong social justice orientation and commitment to addressing health disparities. Foundational to the program is creating a safe and confidential discussion space for HELM Fellows, Leaders, and seminar facilitators.
- Mentoring: Fellows are matched with a senior-level faculty mentor. Mentors in the program have experience working with culturally diverse faculty and trainees, utilizing proven methods to enhance mentoring effectiveness. Current mentor/mentee dyads can be considered for the program.
Who Should Apply?
The HELM program is designed specifically for UMN-affiliated early-career scholars (assistant professors, fellows, residents, post-docs) whose work focuses on health disparities and related research and/or clinical care.
Benefits
- Opportunities to meet with local and national leaders on topics of leadership development and health equity issues
- Priority consideration for local and national professional development opportunities
- Monthly lunch and networking with other health equity scholars at each seminar
- Up to $250 in career development funds
- Recognition as a HELM Fellow with end-of-program-year celebration and plaque
Expectations
We expect that HELM Fellows attend all seminars, including the kick-off event in October, the monthly seminars scheduled from November through May, and the closing event in June. We recognize that unexpected events come up and schedules change; however, we require attendance at 7 of 9 sessions unless there are extraordinary circumstances. Priority will be given to applicants who can commit to attending all sessions. Dates are as follows.
- Kick-off seminar - Friday, October 24, 2025, 12-3 pm CT, in person, Room 105 of the 717 Delaware building. Lunch provided.
- The November ‘25 through May ‘26 seminar series will be held on the 2nd Friday of each month from 12-2 pm CT in person, Room 105 of the 717 Delaware building. Lunch provided.
- Nov. 14, 2025
- Dec. 12, 2025
- Jan. 9, 2026
- Feb. 13, 2026
- Mar. 13, 2026
- Apr. 10, 2026
- May 8, 2026
- Closing seminar and HELM celebration - Friday, June 12, 2026, 12-3 pm CT, in person, Room 105 of the 717 Delaware building. Lunch provided.
- Meet at least three times with your matched HELM mentor over the course of the program
- Complete program evaluations
- Provide post-program updates to program staff
2023 - 2024 HELM Fellows and Leaders
Words from Recent HELM Fellows:
“I think the leadership's engagement with who we were as people and professionals was affirming, not dictating how we each had to approach health equity but building off of our own goals.”
“I think that thanks to this program, I am better able to navigate aspects of my career such as the hidden curriculum, building your network and finding a sponsor within academia. I can use these tools to create a research portfolio that is more inclusive and focused on our patient populations.”