Adolescent Health & Primary Care Research Fellowships

Adolescent Health Team

Leadership Education in Adolescent Health Programs (LEAH)

Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, the program provides interdisciplinary leadership training, faculty development, continuing education, scholarship, technical assistance and collaboration with MCH programs, Title V Programs in state departments of public health, State Adolescent Health Coordinators, policymakers and professional organizations concerned with the health of adolescents. Leadership training produces the professionals for the next generation of leaders who will influence and train clinicians, public policy and public health experts, investigators and educators. All of these individuals will move the field forward by improving clinical services, program development and research/evaluation.

Our Curriculum:
The UMN LEAH program has been funded since 1978. Our program provides interdisciplinary leadership training in adolescent health for pre- and post-doctoral fellows from diverse disciplines including: medicine, nursing, nutrition, psychology, public health, and social work, among others. Our multidisciplinary faculty bring diverse expertise and experience to the training of emerging leaders in adolescent health.

Key Components of Our LEAH Training Program:

  • Seminars cover a range of child/adolescent health topics, and build skills for: leadership, research, public speaking, legislative advocacy, working with communities, and translating research into practice.
  • A research project conducted in concert with a faculty mentor; 
  • Leadership- and community engagement experiences; and 
  • Opportunities to participate in other specialized training and professional development

Fellows receive a stipend (based on their level of training) as well as support for conference travel.

Interdisciplinary Research Training in Child & Adolescent Primary Care

The overall purpose of our interdisciplinary research training program in child and adolescent primary care is to equip health care professionals with the capacity to conduct primary care research that advances evidence-based practices and policies for creating health equity and improving life trajectory for young people.

This fellowship prepares postdoctoral (MD/DO post-residency; PhD; comparable doctoral degree) scholars committed to a career in primary care research with skills for conducting determinant, intervention, and health services research focused on current and emerging health and health care issues of children and adolescents. The interdisciplinary training program brings together trainees and faculty from diverse disciplines including Medicine, Public Health, Dentistry, Nursing, Psychology, Nutrition, Social Work, and Education.

Our Curriculum:
The fellowship is two to three years, with a curriculum that integrates educational offerings through the School of Public Health and the School of Nursing with seminars based within the Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health. The curriculum incorporates general pediatrics knowledge areas, research, advocacy, academic leadership skills, and development of a focal area of expertise. Trainees without an MPH or similar degree have the option of completing MPH degrees, choosing from several areas of concentration, including Epidemiology, Maternal and Child Health, Community Health Education, and Public Health Administration and Policy.

Trainees work with identified mentors on primary care research projects in areas of their interest. Areas of expertise developed by past trainees include identification and management of psychosocial problems in primary care, reducing health disparities among vulnerable youth and under-resourced populations, prevention of adolescent risk behaviors, including violence involvement, bullying, substance abuse, and unsafe sexual activity, overweight prevention and management, primary care for children with special health care needs, health care for incarcerated youth, and foster care health.

To learn more about our medical fellowships in Academic General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, please follow the links below: 

Academic General Pediatrics
Program Director

Dr. Iris Borowsky
borow004@umn.edu

Program Coordinator

Michelle Stepka
mstepka@umn.edu
(612) 624-4912

Adolescent Medicine
Program Director

Dr. Nimi Singh
singh031@umn.edu

Program Coordinator 

Michelle Stepka
mstepka@umn.edu
(612) 624-4912