Applicants must be board eligible/certified in emergency medicine and within 5 years of completing residency.

The Health Policy and Leadership Fellowship is a two-year, comprehensive program designed to provide fellows with a balanced and immersive experience across clinical practice, education, and policy. Fellows are appointed as full-time faculty in the University of Maryland School of Medicine Department of Emergency Medicine and divide their time between direct patient care and program-based training.

Central to the fellowship are at least two staff level policy placements, beginning with hands-on participation in the Maryland General Assembly and followed by a second, tailored experience at the national, state, or local level. These placements may include opportunities with organizations such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, legislative offices, or public health agencies, allowing fellows to gain practical insight into the policy process and build meaningful experience in real-world settings.

In parallel with experiential learning, fellows engage in formal education through the option to complete a fully funded Master of Public Health degree or pursue individualized coursework in health policy and leadership. The program emphasizes personalized mentorship, leadership development, and career planning, supported by partnerships with national physician leadership organizations and a strong network of policy leaders. Fellows are encouraged to participate in advocacy at both the state and national levels, attend key conferences, and collaborate with policymakers and physician leaders, particularly in the Washington, D.C. region. Each fellow also completes a scholarly research or policy analysis project of publishable quality, drawing on mentorship from faculty across the Department of Emergency Medicine and School of Public Health. Together, these components ensure graduates are well prepared for competitive careers in health policy and physician leadership.

Applications must be submitted by email no later than October 10th for consideration in the upcoming academic year. Please send your CV, cover letter, and 2 letters of recommendation (including 1 from your program director) to the fellowship director, Dr. Kyle Fischer.