Northwest Public Health & Primary Care Leadership Institute

Developed by the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice and the Northwest Regional Primary Care Association, the Leadership Institute brings together emerging leaders in public health and primary care to develop more equitable and effective approaches to population health.

This program, which centers health equity as a shared goal of both public health and primary care, provides a unique opportunity to expand your skillset and leadership development as you work with peers on new models of care to drive sustainable improvement in the health of individuals, communities, and populations.

Quick Facts

Focus: Intersections of primary care and public health with a focus on health equity

Sessions: March–September 2023. Two planned in-person gatherings (March 15–17 and September 27–29) in Seattle and 2-hour, monthly virtual sessions (April 19, May 17, June 21, July 19, August 16).

Format: Distance-based and in-person learning, small groups

Who Should Apply: Mid-career professionals from public health and community-based primary care settings, people of color and other underrepresented groups, and professionals working in rural areas or with medically underserved populations are strongly encouraged to apply.

Cost: $3,500 early bird/$3,700 full price. Fees cover faculty, staff, facilities, program resources, access to distance learning technologies, and most meals during the on-site sessions. They do not cover travel or lodging expenses to and from the in-person sessions. Limited scholarship funds are available, see the application for more details.

Application Deadlines: All applications and payments are managed through the Northwest Regional Primary Care Association. Applications are currently closed for the 2023 cohort.

Questions: For questions about the program, contact Nikki Dettmar at the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice or Seth Doyle at the Northwest Regional Primary Care Association.

Intended Audience

We welcome a diverse group of emerging leaders from a variety of public health and primary care fields. Participants represent, but are not limited to, a range of organizations, including state and local health departments, community health centers, tribal health departments, community-based organizations, hospitals, Washington’s Accountable Communities of Health or Oregon’s Coordinated Care Organizations, behavioral health organizations, and the Washington State Health Care Authority.

Learning Goals and Formats

The Leadership Institute creates cross-sector communities of practice and uses a variety of learning methods to build competencies in the following areas: Adaptive Leadership, Population Health and Health Equity, Systems Thinking and Health Care Transformation , and Community Engagement and Collaboration. Learn more about the leadership competencies that are explored through the Institute curriculum.

The curriculum, taught by practice-based faculty and guest speakers from around the region, uses a variety of methods to build leadership competencies for addressing today’s most challenging public health and primary care issues, especially around collaboration. Scholars participate in group and individual assignments, panels, lectures, webinars, and discussions, and use problem-based learning to explore real-life situations leaders face in the field. They also work on a project specific to their work or organization, mentored by senior faculty with executive experience. An individual leadership plan serves as a roadmap for their personal leadership development.

What is problem-based learning?

Problem-based learning (PBL) is an instructional approach that simulates real-world problems to drive the learning process. Program faculty and staff write cases and support small learning groups of scholars who examine the cases, identify key issues, research solutions, and apply findings to each case. This approach allows scholars to work with the complexities of real-world public health challenges. It also encourages both self-directed learners and team players.

Cases help scholars acquire situational knowledge, which is critical for effectively retrieving and applying information. This is especially important in a leadership context because situational knowledge is more tangible and detail-oriented, as opposed to content knowledge, which is more abstract and principle-oriented. Watch a brief video about problem-based learning.

What’s the difference between NWCPHP’s Public Health Management Certificate and the Leadership Institute?

The Leadership Institute focuses on skills designed to lead organizations through change or move organizations in a new direction. Some of these skills include visioning, self-understanding, motivating and inspiring others, and aligning people. The Public Health Management Certificate focuses on skills that provide structure and consistency within an organization. Some of these skills include budgeting, planning, staffing, conflict negotiation, and interpersonal understanding. Both sets of skills are needed for a successful organization.

Schedule

The 2023 program includes two planned in-person gatherings in Seattle (March 15–17 and September 27–29) and 2-hour, monthly virtual sessions (April 19, May 17, June 21, July 19, August 16). Distance learning and coaching activities take place in between the live group sessions, including individual and group assignments, panels, lectures, discussions, and work on real-world case studies.

See a sample schedule for an in-person session.

Sponsorship Opportunities

The Northwest Public Health & Primary Care Leadership Institute values a diverse cohort of professionals, including those from smaller non-profit organizations or other institutions that may not have the funds to cover full tuition, or from departments that need additional support. We are seeking additional funding to support partial scholarships for the program and we invite institutions and individuals interested in investing in future leaders to contact us about contributing.