Professor Mindy Fullilove Selected for New National Leadership Program to Build Culture of Health

(New York, NY) With their ability to design research to meet urgent community needs, and to directly apply research to create change, researchers and community leaders—such as directors of nonprofits,  faith leaders, organizers or advocates—are powerful partners for impacting urgent community health needs.As one of only 15 three-person teams selected, Mindy Fullilove, Professor of Urban Policy and Health, Milano School of International Affairs, Management, and Urban Policy joins Interdisciplinary Research Leaders, a new program led by the University of Minnesota with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Fullilove will join researchers and community leaders from across the country to collaborate and innovate to solve persistent challenges and advance a Culture of Health—one that places well-being at the center of every aspect of life. As part of the program Fullilove’s project: Making the Just City: An Examination of Organizing for Equity and Health in Shaw and Orange is one of fifteen projects bringing together interdisciplinary teams to look at the larger issues affecting health in the US. Fullilove’s team is focused on the problem of helping people stay in neighborhoods that are under the intense economic and social pressures of gentrification.  Along the way she is developing high-level leadership skills through professional coaching, mentoring, networking and an advanced leadership curriculum. While participating in the program she will continue working full-time while applying new knowledge and leadership in the community and field.“This program gives our fellows the tools to make their work even more relevant and potent—and to bring new leadership skills and perspective back to their communities as well,” says J. Michael Oakes, PhD, director of Interdisciplinary Research Leaders and professor at the University of Minnesota. “We were overwhelmed by the commitment, diverse perspectives and innovative ideas in our applicant pool and are very excited to work with this first group to put research into action and create a lasting, on-the-ground impact.”Additional partners providing training and coaching to fellows include: AcademyHealth, Allina Health, ISAIAH and Local Initiatives Support Corporation.Interdisciplinary Research Leaders is one of four new leadership development programs launched this year by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and represent a four-year, multimillion dollar investment. The programs join five existing leadership programs in advancing RWJF’s legacy of supporting the development and diversity of leaders impacting health. The 2017 application period for the new programs will open in January. Additional information is available at www.interdisciplinaryresearch-leaders.org.