May 19, 2014

This year’s class of Macy Undergraduate Fellows had a unique opportunity to learn about community programs this quarter. During their Leadership in Action and Community Health course, they were invited to visit the Independence Blue Cross Foundation to hear firsthand about the many community health initiatives underway at the Foundation.

Lorina Marshall-Blake, President of the Independence Blue Cross Foundation, hosted Roberta Waite, PhD, creator of the Macy Undergraduate Leader Program, and the class of Macy students on-site at the Foundation. There they heard from a panel of four speakers who discussed various initiatives in the community, encompassing not only nursing initiatives but also interdisciplinary programs that were relevant to students in all health professions who are enrolled in the course.

Developed in 2011 by Waite, a Macy Faculty Scholar alumna of the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, the Macy Undergraduate Leadership Program aims to mold students from the College of Nursing and Health Professions into future leaders in the healthcare field. The final course in a series of three courses required to complete the one-year program is titled Leadership in Action and Community Health. Students in the course examine roles and functions carried out by leaders in healthcare, especially those who advocate for underserved populations. They are also learning about national policies that affect community health, advocacy movements in healthcare, healthcare delivery models and their role as it relates to patient advocacy, and about health disparities related to race, class, and culture that impact the community.