STUDENTS

EMBARK is now accepting applications for the

EMBARK Awareness Fellows Program

The EMBARK Awareness Fellows Program is a new, funded opportunity designed for current medical students who are passionate about community health and have an interest in nephrology. There will be two Fellows for the 2025-2026 school year: Education Fellow and Narrative Medicine Fellow.

The EMBARK Awareness Fellows Program will commence over eight months from October 6, 2025 to May 29, 2026, with potential for extension through the summer and next school year. EMBARK Awareness Fellows will each receive a $5,000 stipend to support their participation in the program and recognize their contributions to kidney health equity.

Full Program Description (Download PDF)

Applications Open

August 25, 2025

Applications Close

September 11, 2025 @ 11:59 PM PT

Program Duration

8 Months

AIM

The EMBARK Awareness Fellows Program aims to create meaningful opportunities for Black/African American and other underrepresented students in medicine to grow as leaders in kidney health. As part of this national program, Fellows will collaborate on initiatives that align with EMBARK’s mission to reduce disparities in kidney disease outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

The program is designed to deepen medical trainees’ knowledge of kidney health while actively contributing to community outreach efforts aimed at reducing health disparities in kidney disease diagnosis and treatment. The program’s objectives include:

Fellows will create and disseminate education materials tailored to both medical trainees and community members to enhance kidney health literacy and promote preventive care.
Fellows will assist in recruiting and supporting a diverse group of medical student volunteers, helping to grow the EMBARK Students Program and foster a pipeline of future kidney health advocates.
Fellows will grow leadership skills by collaboratively designing, organizing, and implementing at least one kidney health awareness/screening event during the program year.
Each Fellow will establish a regular mentorship relationship with a nephrologist or related specialist, engaging in a minimum of three sixty-minute one-on-one meetings to discuss career development, clinical interests, and research opportunities.

HOW IT'S STRUCTURED

The EMBARK Awareness Fellows Program offers medical students the opportunity to engage in both collaborative and independent work while advancing kidney health equity. Fellows will work as a team to expand the EMBARK Awareness Students Program, recruiting student volunteers, organizing events, and promoting kidney health awareness. They will also mentor undergraduate participants in GlomCon’s Mentored Internship Program in Nephrology (MIPiN), fostering the next generation of nephrologists, clinicians, researchers, and advocates. The activities of the fellows will be directed by the EMBARK Awareness Student Programming Lead, Eunice Lamothe.

MEET EUNICE

Eunice Lamothe is an MS1 at Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine who has a deep interest in the intersection of public policy, community health, and clinical medicine. Before attending medical school, Eunice served as the Project Manager for Organizing Resilience, a national organization focused on resourcing community-based groups during times of climate disaster.
Eunice is a graduate of Boston University with a degree in Economics. During her time there, she served as a Research Assistant for the Black Women’s Health Study, an intern at the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, and as a political organizing intern for a senate primary campaign. Additionally, Eunice was deeply involved in developing campus-wide food access programming and developing service-learning curriculum for incoming students.

COMMUNITY SCREENING EVENTS

Each fellow will be responsible for hosting or supporting at least one EMBARK community-based kidney screening in their region, providing hands-on experience in community outreach and preventive health. In addition, every EMBARK Awareness Fellow will be paired with a dedicated mentor in nephrology or a related specialty, meeting regularly for individualized guidance on career development, clinical interests, and research pursuits.

TWO FELLOWSHIP TRACKS AVAILABLE

For the inaugural cohort, two distinct fellowship tracks are available, each offering unique avenues to contribute to the EMBARK Awareness mission while working together to design and implement medical student programming focused on kidney disease equity:

Education Fellow

The Education Fellow will lead the development of kidney health programming and educational resources designed to serve both community members and medical students. This role centers on advancing kidney health awareness by developing innovative, accessible, and culturally informed learning opportunities.

Narrative Medicine Fellow

The Narrative Medicine Fellow will play a central role in amplifying the voices and experiences of patients, providers, caregivers, and other stakeholders in kidney health. This role will also showcase and promote EMBARK’s community-based work, using storytelling as a powerful tool to inspire action and raise awareness.

The Fellowship Program will begin on October 6th, with a two-hour orientation, where Fellows will meet the EMBARK Awareness Executive Team and learn about the history of the organization and priorities for the 2025-2026 school year. Fellows will meet bimonthly on Monday evenings, with exceptions for holidays and other events.

ADDITIONAL PROGRAM DETAILS

TIME COMMITMENT

Students should expect to contribute 20-25 hours per month on average on activities for the fellowship, including bimonthly meetings, all events, mentorship meetings, and independent project development time. All fellowship activities will be completed remotely. Our expectations include:

Attend the virtual EMBARK Awareness Fellows Orientation on October 6, 2025
Attend a minimum of 80% of the bimonthly Fellows meeting
Attend a minimum of three 1:1 meetings with assigned Nephrology Mentor
Host or support one community-based Kidney Screening in your area with the EMBARK Awareness team

EMBARK Awareness Fellows will receive a $5,000 stipend, disbursed in two installments in February and May, to support their participation in the program and recognize their contributions to kidney health equity.

METRICS

To assess the impact of the EMBARK Fellows Program, we will track a range of engagement and outcome metrics, including:

Attendance at virtual events hosted by EMBARK Fellows
Participant satisfaction among medical students, measured through post-event surveys
Recruitment of medical student volunteers for screening and outreach activities
Reach and visibility of EMBARK initiatives through social media impressions and engagement
Community participation, measured by the number of attendees at student-led screening and education events

WHO SHOULD APPLY

Students currently enrolled in U.S. MD or DO programs may consider applying if they have:

Good academic standing
Demonstrated commitment to health equity and reducing health disparities
Effective oral and written communication skills
Interest in developing leadership skills in community outreach and programmatic development
Desire to enhance their knowledge of kidney disease and explore Nephrology or related specialities

REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must be currently enrolled in a U.S. MD or DO program. Priority consideration will be given to trainees from underrepresented backgrounds and those with personal experience with kidney disease.

To apply for the EMBARK Awareness Fellows Program, Applicants must submit the following materials:

Official or Unofficial Transcript
Letter of Good Academic Standing
Updated Resume or CV
Statement of Interest (500 Words Max): Please share why you are applying to be an EMBARK Awareness Fellow and how your interests align with the program’s mission to advance kidney health equity.
Paragraph Summary of Availability for the 2025–2026 School Year
- Please include your current year in medical school and outline any academic or clinical commitments, so we can better understand your availability throughout the program.
Optional for Narrative Medicine Fellow Applicants: Submit a portfolio highlighting relevant creative or communications work. Examples may include writing samples, social media content created for student organizations, event flyers, or other design work.

If accepted to the program, Fellows will be asked to submit a Professional Biography to be featured on the EMBARK Awareness website. The deadline to apply for the EMBARK Awareness Fellows Program is September 8, 2025 at 11:59 PM PST.