APP Post Graduate Fellowship Program
About the Program
Who Can Apply
- 12 months or less from graduation upon start of program (only applicants who graduate after October 2024 are eligible to apply).
- Credentialed or license/credential-eligible
- Due to grant funding restrictions, candidates must be US citizen and cannot be enrolled in an academic program during the APP Fellowship Program.
- Please note: Licensing and credentialing do not need to be active at the time of the application submission. However, it is required before the start of the program year in October. The following licenses are required: National Board Certification, State licensure, DEA, BLS, NPI, and completion of controlled substances course.
Desired Qualifications
- Demonstrated commitment to providing care to medically underserved populations.
- Desire to practice as a primary care provider in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) upon completion of the fellowship.
- If you have any questions, please email APPFellowship@wellspacehealth.org
Program Components
Precepted “Continuity Clinics”
(4 sessions/week) Precepted Continuity Clinics are the cornerstones of the fellowship. In precepted clinics, the APP fellows develop their own patient panel while having an expert WellSpace Health primary care provider (FNP, PA, MD) exclusively assigned to them.
Specialty Rotations
(2 sessions/week with 8-week rotations) Specialty rotations in areas of high-volume/high-burden/high-risk situations most commonly encountered in the setting of the FQHC. Rotations may include, but not limited to: Women’s Health, Pediatrics, Muscular Skeletal, HIV care, Immediate Care, MAT, Behavioral Health and Healthcare for the unhoused.
Mentored Clinics
(2 sessions/week) During mentored clinics, the fellows work as a member of a team and see patients at the delegation of the primary care providers, who remain available for consultations. The focus is on the practice of episodic and acute care visits.
Didactic Education Sessions
(1-2 session/week) Formal learning sessions on a variety of complex clinical challenges most commonly encountered in FQHCs. The content of the presentations is planned to correspond to the fellows’ current clinical experiences.
Quality Improvement Training/ Professional Development
(1 session/week) Training to WellSpace Health’s quality improvement model, including clinical microsystems and facilitation as well as leadership and professional development.
Evaluations
The WellSpace Health APP Fellowship Program provides an ongoing multi-input evaluation component using qualitative and quantitative measures.
* A session is defined as a 4-hour AM or PM block of time. There are 10 “sessions” per week.
How to Apply
Thank you for your interest in the WellSpace Institute’s APP Postgraduate Fellowship Program. Please provide the following program application requirements to APPFellowship@wellspacehealth.org
- Curriculum Vitae
- Personal Statement (Maximum two pages)
- What experiences (personal, professional, educational and/or clinical) informed your choice of pursuing a career as a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant in Primary Care?
- What are your goals and aspirations for this fellowship program, how do they fit with your early and long-term career plans as an APP fellow?
- Discuss your interest in working with WellSpace Health and the underserved community.
- Two letters of recommendation that speak to your clinical acumen
For any questions about the application process, send them to APPFellowship@wellspacehealth.org
FAQ
What is the commitment to complete the fellowship program?
The APP Fellowship is a 12-month, full-time employment and training opportunity. APP Fellows are full-time employees during the fellowship and scheduled for a 40-hour-per-week schedule to meet all program requirements.
Is there a post-fellowship employment commitment?
Yes. After the fellowship program year, fellows are required to complete a one-year employment commitment. This allows fellows to have a year of practice at one of our WellSpace Health locations and provide continuity in the training experience and smooth transition to full-time practice. During the post-fellowship year, fellows will continue to receive mentored support and have the ability to identify a specialty area of focus if interested.
Does the program provide salary and benefits?
Yes. As employees, fellows receive comprehensive benefits from WellSpace Health. This includes a competitive salary, medical, dental, paid time off, license reimbursement, and other benefits. Additional information on our benefit offerings will be provided during the formal interview process.
Do I need my professional licenses when I apply to the program?
No. Most of our applicants apply to the fellowship program while they are completing their graduate program. All licensure needs to be in place by the start of the program in October. Fellows must sit for and pass their board certification exam by mid-July.
When does the program start?
The fellowship program starts in October. Fellows will start in WellSpace Health’s New Hire orientation for employees. This is followed by orientation for the fellowship program and electronic health record training.
Am I eligible for loan repayment during the fellowship?Please check with federal and state servicing agencies for specific program requirements.
The WellSpace Health APP Fellowship Program provides an ongoing multi-input evaluation component using qualitative and quantitative measures.
What type of specialty rotations would the APP fellows participate in?
Fellows complete four 3-month blocks in specialties like women’s health, pediatrics, behavioral health, musculoskeletal, nephrology, endocrinology, infectious disease, co-occurring/SUD, and immediate care.
What does a day look like for APP fellows during clinical?
Practice as a provider, working to build their own panel of patients. Working directly alongside preceptors for clinical guidance and practice management support. Our fellows will slowly ramp up their productivity over a year, up to a full-time provider.
Does the APP program provide fellows with loan forgiveness?
Yes, fellows are eligible for loan forgiveness. WSH does not provide loan forgiveness; this is provided through federal programs.