CHICAGO — The American Medical Association (AMA) and the Satcher Health Leadership Institute (SHLI) at the Morehouse School of Medicine today announced the selection of 12 physicians as the inaugural fellows for the Medical Justice in Advocacy Fellowship, a new collaborative initiative empowering physician-led advocacy to advance health equity, removing barriers to optimal health for all.

Over 300 applications were received nationwide. The selected fellows represent a unique group of physicians from around the country encompassing multiple specialties, all with a commitment to addressing the root causes of health inequities and improving the health and wellbeing of their patients and the communities they serve.

The 2021-2022 Medical Justice in Advocacy fellows are:

• Eileen Barrett, M.D., M.P.H., S.F.H.M., M.A.C.P.
• Amber Clark, M.D.
• Charles Calvin Coleman, M.D.
• Lorenzo Antonio Gonzalez, M.D., M.P.L
• Omar Guzman, M.D.
• Kamaal A. Jones, M.D.
• Kameryn J. Lee, M.D., M.S.P.H., F.A.C.O.G.
• Melissa Palma, M.D., M.P.H.
• Avani K. Patel, M.D., M.H.A
• Shilpen Patel, M.D., F.A.C.R.O, F.A.S.T.R.O
• Maya Ragavan, M.D., M.P.H., M.S.
• Ramona Rhodes, M.D., M.P.H., M.S.C.S.

“It is an honor to welcome the inaugural cohort of physicians for the Medical Justice in Advocacy Fellowship,” said AMA’s Chief Health Equity Officer Aletha Maybank, M.D., M.P.H. “The AMA is committed to educating and empowering a new generation of physician leaders that can effectively advocate for advancing equity and justice within their own communities, bringing us closer to our goal of improving the health of our nation.”

“We are thrilled to provide the selected fellows with an innovative mentoring and training platform that uses an anti-racist and equity-centered framework. This initiative is a unique opportunity to equip physicians with the tools, skills, and knowledge to engage in institutional and political health advocacy—offering solutions for a more healthy, equitable, and inclusive society,” said Daniel E. Dawes, J.D., professor of health policy and executive director of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at the Morehouse School of Medicine and author of ‘The Political Determinants of Health.’

The fellowship will cultivate physicians as the next generation of advocacy leaders, driving meaningful policy and structural changes that ensure equity and justice in medicine and their communities. Under the mentorship of renowned multidisciplinary health equity experts, the fellows will work collaboratively to generate and exchange solutions for implementing healthy equity projects focused on ensuring better health outcomes and closing health gaps for patients and their communities.

The inaugural Medical Justice in Advocacy fellowship will take place from September 2021—November 2022, convening monthly for learning and mentor engagement. For additional information on the fellowship and to follow the fellows’ activities, visit the Medical Justice in Advocacy Fellowship website.

Editor’s note: The creation of the Medical Justice in Advocacy Fellowship aligns with the AMA’s  strategic plan to embed racial justice and advance health equity, which was released in May 2021 and calls for collaborating with partners and stakeholders to eliminate health inequities. To learn more on this topic, click here.