Expand your knowledge from patients to populations
The NYS Fellowship in Applied Public Health (FAPH) is a specialized public health training program that prepares physicians, veterinarians, and other advanced licensed health care professionals for leadership roles in state and local health departments.
In this program, which is jointly sponsored by the University at Albany and the New York State Department of Health, you will gain knowledge and skills to promote health, prevent disease, improve access to quality health care, and advance health equity through a wide range of public health programs and policies.
FAPH provides a highly individualized and rigorous two-year program that combines academic coursework and applied public health experience. Fellows earn the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree alongside extensive mentored practicum experiences at the New York State Department of Health and a local county health department. Your training is guided by an individualized, competency-driven professional development plan developed in consultation with your program advisor.
The FAPH program builds on our successful 30+ year experience with the New York State Preventive Medicine Residency Program, which transitioned to the fellowship program in 2016.
About the Fellowship
As a fellow, you will acquire a strong background in the academic, practical, and professional skills necessary to work effectively as a public health leader. You’ll learn to think and practice at the population level, translating and expanding your clinical training and experience to benefit entire organizations, communities, and society.
Fellows who do not already have a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree will earn one through the fellowship program. Through a specialized MPH concentration in Population Medicine, you will have flexibility to explore your public health interests across several disciplines such as epidemiology, health policy, health systems management, community health, or environmental health. Fellows transfer in 9 credits from prior clinical graduate training, creating additional flexibility and allowing them to complete the MPH on an accelerated timeline.
Alongside your MPH coursework, you will spend progressively increasing time each week in practicum rotations at the NYS Department of Health and a local county health department – the equivalent of a full year of full-time, hands-on, mentored practicum experience spread across the fellowship program. Through your practicum projects, you’ll apply the public health principles introduced in the classroom, learn directly from public health leaders in a range of program areas, and develop tangible and meaningful products that directly contribute to promoting the health of New York’s population. There is significant flexibility to tailor your practicum experiences based on your interests and career goals.
Applicants who already hold a MPH degree may apply for advanced standing to complete the practicum and individualized professional development components of the FAPH program.
Throughout the fellowship, you will assess and advance your professional development across a comprehensive set of national public health leadership competencies, tailored to your areas of interest.
Want to learn more about the fellowship? Read this recent interview with FAPH Program Director Dr. Rachel de Long.
You can also download the FAPH flyer with basic information about the program.
Additional Opportunities
As a fellow, you will participate in weekly seminars featuring guest speakers from the Department of Health and other public and private agencies. These seminars will cover key public health issues. Our Monthly Journal Club series will give you experience with rigorous methodological analysis of published research. As a core component of the fellowship, you will develop and implement an individualized professional development plan, in consultation with your program advisor.
Pay and Benefits
The program offers full-time salary competitive with other residency and fellowship programs. Tuition and fees for the MPH are also fully covered. You will be eligible for health and retirement benefits offered to SUNY employees.
Examples of recent fellows' practicum projects
- Developing and coordinating implementation of policies for county-wide school reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Developing guidance for hospitals on referral of eligible patients from emergency departments to Medicaid Health Homes.
- Conducting a literature review and provider survey to develop best practice recommendations for stroke/TIA patient care transitions.
- Designing, conducting, and analyzing results of surveys to assess public health program services for clients with disabilities or identifying as LGBTQ+.
Fellowship Structure
Fellows earning the MPH degree through the fellowship typically begin the program in August and complete it in 21 months. Fellows who already have an MPH degree may start the program anytime during the year and complete it in 12 months. The program is designed to be completed full-time in person. Requests for part-time training plans will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Fellows Entering Without an MPH Degree
(21 months)
Program Year 1 (August-May)
- Fall: 5 courses (15 credits) plus Practicum 1 day/week
- Winter: Practicum 5 days/week
- Spring: 4 courses (12 credits) plus Practicum 2 days/week
Program Year 2 (May-May)
- Summer: Practicum 5 days/week
- Fall: 2 courses (6 credits) plus Practicum 3.5 days/week
- Winter: Practicum 5 days/week
- Spring: Capstone Project plus Practicum 4.5 days/week
Seminar and Professional Development
- Friday morning FAPH seminar every Fall and Spring semester.
- Individualized professional development activities continuously throughout the program.
Additional Information
See the Graduate Bulletin for details.
For more information, contact the FAPH Program Director Dr. Rachel de Long at [email protected] or FAPH Program Coordinator Carol Rosenberg at [email protected].
Fellows Entering With an MPH Degree
(12 months)
Program Year 1 (August-August)
- Fall: Practicum 4.5 days/week
- Winter: Practicum 5 days/week
- Spring: Practicum 4.5 days/week
- Summer: Practicum 5 days/week
Seminar and Professional Development
- Friday morning FAPH seminar every Fall & Spring semester.
- Individualized professional development activities continuously throughout the program.
Additional Information
See the Graduate Bulletin for details.
For more information, contact the FAPH Program Director Dr. Rachel de Long at [email protected] or FAPH Program Coordinator Carol Rosenberg at [email protected].
“FAPH not only gave me an excellent fund of knowledge in epidemiology, statistics, environmental health, and social and behavioral health, but it also provided me practical experiences with mentors at various offices in the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). These experiences are what facilitated my understanding of the complex structure of NYSDOH and taught me how to apply what I learned at the school to help inform decisions affecting the current and future health of New Yorkers. I have a strong interest in understanding health policies and my experience has solidified my desire to help make positive changes by using evidence-based knowledge and keeping the social determinants of health at the forefront. I am excited to begin my new position as a Medical Director in the Office of Health Insurance Programs of the NYSDOH. This new career path would not have been made possible without this fellowship and the mentorship I received.”
- Priscilla Paiva, MD, MPH (FAPH 2019)
“Despite my emphasis on preventive pediatric medicine and social determinants in my practice, I continued to see challenges in the lives of my patients and families that could not be adequately solved in the doctor’s office through clinical interventions alone. The Fellowship in Applied Public Health provided me with the opportunity to expand my public health knowledge and skillset to better address the complex health issues facing my patients and our greater community. In my current role as Medical Director for the Center for Environmental Health at the NYSDOH, I enjoy the opportunity to continue pursuing my passions by linking the health care and public health communities in addressing a variety of important environmental health topics. These include ensuring safe drinking water, eliminating lead and other toxic exposures, preventing injuries and violence, improving the home and outdoor environments to prevent health-related conditions such as asthma, and addressing the health effects of climate change.”
- Kristen Navarette, MD, MPH (FAPH 2018)
"I applied to the Fellowship in Applied Public Health in order to gain tools and experience that would allow me to expand my role as a family medicine physician to better address health disparities. As a resident at Phelps Hospital in Sleepy Hollow, NY (completed June 2019), I worked in both a community hospital and at a Federal Qualified Health Center, treating primarily an underserved immigrant population. As I became more aware of the benefits and limitations of our health care system on patients and healthcare workers, I felt that I needed to develop a strong background in public health in order to effectively support positive change. In my fellowship, I plan to work with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) to develop programs that can address some of the factors that lead to poor health outcomes in LGBT patients. Additionally, I’ll be contributing to efforts to understand the health effects of Harmful Algal Blooms."
- Ariela Zamcheck, DO, DABFM
Fellow, Fellowship in Applied Public Health
Fellowship Learning Objectives
The FAPH program is grounded in a comprehensive set of nationally recognized competencies for public health professionals. A subset of these competencies have been adapted as concentration-specific competencies and associated learning objectives that fellows are expected to attain through their Master of Public Health in Population Medicine.
Fellowship in Applied Public Health
- Demonstrate how publicly available population health data systems – including public health surveillance systems and national surveys - can be used to assess, monitor and evaluate population health and public health policies and programs
- Synthesize, evaluate and apply evidence from multiple sources and perspectives to support public health decision-making related to current public health issues
- Evaluate the roles and responsibilities of governmental and non-governmental organizations in providing programs and services to address specific public health issues and improve public health
In addition, each fellow develops two individualized competencies as part of their individualized professional development plan, in consultation with their faculty advisor.
Admission Requirements
Deadlines
We are currently accepting applications for the Fall 2024 cohort. Priority will be given to applications received by February 15, 2024. After that date, applications will be considered on a rolling basis if space remains available in the program.
Eligibility Requirements
- Licensed physicians, veterinarians, nurse practitioners, and midwives are eligible to apply. Applications from other health care professions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- All applicants must be eligible for an unrestricted New York State license in their relevant profession. Details on license eligibility by profession.
- Physician applicants must be board certified or board eligible in a medical specialty recognized by the ABMS.
- Other professionals must have the equivalent credentials in their own specialty as applicable.
- All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the United States at the time of appointment and throughout your employment with New York State. If accepted to the program, you must produce documents that establish your identity and eligibility to work in the United States, as required by the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Admissions Documents
The fellowship application is a two-step process. You must apply to the fellowship program first (details below). If you are accepted into the fellowship, our FAPH program staff will facilitate application to the Population Medicine track of the Master of Public Health (MPH) Program. Applicants who already have earned an MPH degree may only apply for the practicum component of the fellowship.
All fellowship application materials should be submitted directly to the Fellowship office at [email protected]. Please do not apply through SOPHAS.
CV/Resume
Personal statement
Describe your interest in public health, your past experience in public health and your career goals. (maximum of two pages)
Three letters of recommendation
- Letters must be sent directly from the source and not from the applicant
- One must be from your program director if you are a current resident or fellow
- If you are currently employed, one letter has to be from your supervisor
Medical/Professional school transcript
Other graduate school transcript (if applicable)
Undergraduate transcript
Copy of current New York State professional license (or evidence of pending license application)
Documentation of satisfactory completion of previous residency training, if applicable.