WNCCHS Selected as Host Org for Prestigious ACLS Leading Edge Fellowship

Apply By March 11

Western North Carolina Community Health Services (WNCCHS) is honored to be selected as one of only 14 nonprofit host organizations nationwide for the 2026 ACLS Leading Edge Fellowship Program, funded by the Mellon Foundation.

This prestigious initiative, supported by the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), places recent humanities and interpretive social science PhDs with mission-driven organizations working to advance justice and equity in communities across the United States. 

Through this partnership, WNCCHS will recruit a Health Policy Analyst Fellow for a two-year, full-time fellowship beginning in September 2026. 

The Fellow will: 

• Support clinical quality data analysis to identify gaps in care for groups experiencing disadvantage.  

• Analyze social drivers of health data and assist with evidence-based program research.  

• Lead cross-functional quality improvement projects that address health disparities.  

• Collaborate on culturally responsive health promotion materials with WNCCHS communications.  

• Develop educational programming on implicit bias and cultural humility.  

The role is designed to apply humanistic frameworks to policy analysis, project management, and community health initiatives that strengthen our organizational capacity and support equitable outcomes for patients and communities.  

Fellowship Benefits 

The ACLS Leading Edge Fellowship provides a competitive stipend ($72,000 in year one and $74,000 in year two), employer-sponsored health insurance, professional development support, relocation funds if needed, and mentorship through ACLS.  

How to Apply 

The 2026 competition is now open. Applicants must submit their materials through the ACLS online application system by 9:00 PM EDT on March 11, 2026. Prospective applicants must hold or expect to receive a PhD in the humanities or interpretive social sciences between September 1, 2021, and August 31, 2026, and must be authorized to work in the United States for the duration of the fellowship.  

All applications must be submitted through ACLS: 
https://www.acls.org/competitions/acls-leading-edge-fellowships/ 

This opportunity reflects WNCCHS’s continued commitment to advancing health equity through scholarship, community engagement, and evidence-based practice.