Belmont's College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (CPHS) recently announced the launch of an innovative fellowship aimed at developing future leaders in population health and academic pharmacy. The two-year Population Health and Academic Pharmacy Fellowship represents a first-of-its-kind collaboration between CPHS and Neighborhood Health, a local network of community health centers.
Over the intensive two-year curriculum, fellows will immerse themselves in the delivery of clinical pharmacy services and population health initiatives geared toward underserved patient populations. They will cultivate robust competencies in chronic disease state management, preventive care, healthcare policy, data analytics, value-based care models and more.
The inaugural fellow for this pioneering program is Breyuna Lenoir, a fourth-year student in Belmont's Doctor of Pharmacy program. Lenoir will begin the fellowship in July after completing her final year of pharmacy school. 
As the principal participant, Lenoir will gain hands-on experience spanning community-based care, population health management, academic instruction and research — all core focuses of the program.
“I am elated to be the inaugural fellow,” said Lenoir. "Belmont has a strong reputation for producing quality clinicians who identify the medical gaps and amplify necessary aid for many diverse patient populations. Likewise, Neighborhood Health has multiple facilities that provide resources and diminish barriers for underserved communities, which is an action plan that I have always supported through my leadership involvement and mentorships over the last four years as a student pharmacist.”
The new fellowship reflects Belmont's broader vision and recent initiatives to promote holistic wellbeing through interdisciplinary collaboration. CPHS recently launched its Center for Abundance, Resilience, Excellence, and Spirituality (CARES) to bring together expertise across its seven disciplines to address population health issues.
"The Population Health and Academic Pharmacy Fellowship aligns perfectly with CPHS's commitment to developing innovative practice models that champion access to care and address chronic disease management," noted CPHS Dean Dr. Sharrel Pinto. "Breyuna is an outstanding choice as our first fellow, and we have great expectations for the positive impact she and future fellows will have on our communities."
The program will also provide advanced teaching experiences. Fellows will have opportunities to precept pharmacy students, develop curricula, facilitate seminars and lectures and more. A major component is engaging in independent research to improve health outcomes and equity for diverse communities.
"Neighborhood Health is thrilled to partner with Belmont University on this groundbreaking fellowship,” said Brian Haile, CEO of Neighborhood Health. “By integrating clinical practice with academic rigor and community engagement, we aim to forge a pathway that not only elevates the role of pharmacists in public health but also directly addresses the unique challenges faced by our community's most vulnerable populations."
After graduating, fellows will be primed for careers as leaders driving the future of ambulatory care practice, population health, academic pharmacy and other emerging healthcare roles, beginning with Lenior this upcoming summer.