2009 - 2010

PURPOSE

The Latino Fellowship Program is designed to increase the representation of public health professionals serving Latinos in the US. The Program is particularly interested in early career professionals who are committed to addressing the health disparities confronted by a large and growing Latino population in the United States. One to two fellowships are offered each year for students pursuing their Master’s of Public Health (MPH) through the Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health.

THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM

The MPH program prepares students to develop, implement, administer, and evaluate programs and policies within the fields of sexual, reproductive, and family health. Each area is covered within a global context, combining strategies and experiences from the United States and the developing world. A particular focus of the program is on Washington Heights, the low-income, immigrant community in Northern Manhattan in which the campus is located. Here, sexual, reproductive and family health programs developed and run by the Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health provide rich and varied training opportunities for students. Having worked in the field prior to admission, the student body brings impressive and diverse experiences in domestic and international health to the academic tracks. For more information about the Academic Program click here.

FELLOWSHIP ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility for the fellowship is contingent on being admitted as a full-time Master’s of Public Health student in either the Reproductive and Family Health Track, or the Sexuality and Health Track, of the Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health at the Mailman School of Public Health of Columbia University. The department strongly prefers applicants with at least two prior years of relevant public health work experience. In addition, to be eligible for the fellowship, applicants must be:

• Conversant in Spanish
• Early-career professionals whose work experience focuses on Latino communities in the US and/or countries that send large numbers of Latino immigrants to the US
• Committed to working with Latino populations in the US following completion of the degree
• Eligible for Financial Aid

• Students of Latino ethnicity are encouraged to apply.
• Individuals with advanced degrees (MD, PhD) are not appropriate candidates.
• Students engaging in dual-degree programs at Columbia University (e.g., MSW/MPH) should apply for the Fellowship in the year immediately preceding their registration in the Mailman School of Public Health.
• Unsuccessful candidates cannot reapply.

WHAT FELLOWS RECEIVE

Fellows receive full tuition up to the maximum of 45 credits required for the MPH degree. Appointed as Graduate Research Assistants in the department, fellows also receive monthly stipends in exchange for working 20 hours per week from September 1 through May 31. The 45-credit program is normally completed in two years.

HOW TO APPLY

Students interested in these fellowships must submit all of the following materials by January 5, 2009:

• Application for the Latino Fellowship Program. Click here to download the application in PDF format.
• Application for admission to the Mailman School of Public Health Applications include the Mailman School of Public Health application form, GRE (Graduate Record Exam) scores, official transcripts, three references, a personal statement, and a resume. The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required when the applicant’s first language is not English and the bachelor’s degree is not from a US college or university.
  
  Please note that applications are not reviewed until they are complete. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all documents are received on time by the Admissions Office of the Mailman School of Public Health.
  
  Online applications are strongly encouraged and available at: http://www.mailman.hs.columbia.edu/admissions/app_center.html
  
  
• Application for Financial Aid
  For information about how to apply for financial aid, see: http://www.mailman.hs.columbia.edu/financialaid/index.html

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