Wellbeing Fellowship

About the Program

Developing local wellbeing leaders who advance meaningful, system-level change

The Wellbeing Fellowship is a professional development experience for people who want to improve the work environment and strengthen occupational wellbeing across URochester Medicine. Fellows learn about occupational distress, change leadership, process improvement, measurement, communication, collaboration, and organizational influence while applying those skills through a project focused on local need. Applicants do not need a polished project plan; we are looking for leadership potential, curiosity, credibility, willingness to listen, and commitment to sustainable change.

Our investment: The Wellbeing Fellowship develops people, not simply projects. Fellows build the knowledge, skills, relationships, and organizational influence to serve as local wellbeing leaders and advance culture change across URochester Medicine. Fellows will receive a stipend for participation in the program that will be paid out twice over the year based upon completed milestones.

Program and Eligibility Requirements

• Faculty and staff employed by the University of Rochester Medicine.
• Attend 11 cohort sessions
  • 2nd Wednesday of each month
    4-6:30 p.m.
    January 13, 2027 - December 8, 2027
• Attendance at the 2026 Wellbeing Symposium on November 12, 2026
• Attendance at the 2027 Wellbeing Symposium on November 11, 2027
• Participate actively in learning labs, peer feedback, coaching or mentoring, and work between sessions.
• Complete required progress updates, presentations, and final deliverables, including monthly project updates, mid-point presentations, symposium poster presentations, and regular program evaluations.
• Remain engaged as a local wellbeing leader and program alumni after the formal cohort concludes.
• Have support from local leadership, including time to attend the program sessions and events, and project sponsorship to advance a wellbeing initiative in your local area.

Who Should Apply

The Wellbeing Fellowship is designed for professionals who are ready to grow as local wellbeing leaders and help advance meaningful, sustainable culture change across University of Rochester Medicine. This is a selective professional development program for individuals who have enough professional experience, organizational understanding, and credibility within their area to begin influencing how work is experienced—whether or not they currently hold a formal leadership position or have "wellbeing" in their title.

Strong applicants may be established leaders or individuals whose leadership potential has not yet been fully recognized or developed. We are looking for people who:

• Care deeply about improving the work experience of others and can connect that commitment to the needs of their local area.
• Have built trusted relationships and are positioned to engage colleagues, leaders, and other partners in moving work forward.
• Demonstrate curiosity, self-awareness, initiative, and openness to feedback.
• Can see beyond individual concerns to identify patterns, systems, and opportunities for broader change.
• Are ready to dedicate the time and energy required to participate fully, apply what they learn, and grow into a resource for others.
• Have the support and organizational access needed to explore and advance wellbeing work within their department, division, team, or professional community.

Applicants do not need to have previously led a major initiative, developed a fully formed project, or followed a traditional leadership path. Formal authority is less important than demonstrated readiness, credibility, commitment, and the potential to influence others. At the same time, this program is best suited for applicants who are established enough in their professional roles to apply the experience meaningfully within their local environment.

Dyad Applications

We are particularly interested in applications from clinician–administrative dyads. Bringing together a clinician’s understanding of care delivery and the day-to-day experience of the workforce with an administrative partner’s operational knowledge, relationships, and ability to navigate systems may create a powerful foundation for change. We are interested in learning how these partnerships can strengthen shared leadership, expand influence, and accelerate wellbeing work in ways that may be difficult for either partner to accomplish alone.

Individuals are welcome to apply independently; however, clinicians and administrative professionals who already collaborate—or who see a meaningful opportunity to do so—are strongly encouraged to consider applying together.