Calling community leaders: Applications open for the Center for Community Health Equity Accelerator Fellowship
When it comes to health, doctor’s visits and medical treatments are only part of the story. Research shows that up to 80% of a person’s overall health is shaped by social determinants of health (SDoH)—the daily conditions like food security, housing, and social connection that can impact health outcomes more than medical care alone.
That’s why M Health Fairview established the Center for Community Health Equity in 2022. The center is dedicated to reducing health disparities by working hand-in-hand with community partners to address these root causes of inequity. Through programs like Fair Table, Housing is Health, and Connection is Cure, the center has become a trusted place where medical care meets community-rooted solutions. In addition, the center is developing population health equity initiatives such as a Native Health Equity Initiative, Black Health Equity Initiative, and the Birth Justice Initiative.
“Since opening in 2022, the center has been an extension of our community advancement work,” says Diane Tran, executive director of the center. “It formalizes our partnerships with the community, local organizations and government agencies to affect improved health and momentum for positive change in our communities.”
Now, the center is taking its mission a step further with the launch of the Center for Community Health Equity Accelerator Fellowship. Beginning in January 2026, eight fellows will spend a year designing and implementing innovative projects that address health disparities head-on. Each fellow will receive up to $10,000 in project funding, coaching and technical assistance, and the chance to learn and grow as a cohort of local changemakers.
Why the Fellowship Matters Now
Programs supported by the Center for Community Health Equity are building trusted partnerships and serving as a community incubator to address the social determinants of health. The center has also garnered recognition for leaders like Tran who was honored by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal for transforming community health through this innovative model.
Minnesota continues to face some of the largest racial health gaps in the country. Addressing these inequities requires solutions designed with and by communities. The new Fellowship reflects M Health Fairview’s commitment to share and shift resources and decision-making power to include leaders with lived experience in these challenges—ensuring solutions are rooted in the realities of those most affected and informed.
Together with its ongoing initiatives the Fellowship represents the next chapter of the center’s work: investing in local leaders, amplifying community voices, and building a healthier, more equitable future for all.
Fairview is honored to be the recipient of the 2025 Foster G. McGaw Prize from the American Hospital Association. This prestigious national award honors health systems making a profound impact on community health through strategic partnerships and compassionate care that have demonstrated a strategic approach to community health. It has been nearly 30 years since a Minnesota health system has received the award.
