Institute for Universal Rights, Health & Justice Leadership Program

The Institute of Universal Rights, Health & Justice is proud to announce that, from June 1st to July 10th of 2026, we will be hosting our inaugural Leadership Program. 

In this virtual six-week program, participants will explore how the moral and legal recognition of human and nonhuman rights influences individual and public health outcomes related to violence and conflict, disease risk, and environmental threats.

Throughout the term, participants will have access to lectures, discussions with experts, and support in developing academic and public facing content that reflects their interests.

Overall, participants can expect to dedicate about five hours per week to the program. While intensive, the program is also designed to provide ample opportunity for participants to receive meaningful feedback and engage deeply with each other, experts, and the ideas presented. As a result, space is limited, and the Institute only accepts 20 to 25 participants per year.

The program is targeted toward graduate students, postgraduates, and early to mid-career professionals (including MD/DO, DVM, JD, and PhD candidates and professionals), or other scholars and practitioners who are genuinely interested in incorporating the links between human, animal, and planetary rights, health, and wellbeing into their work.

The Leadership Program fee, originally priced at $750, is now $250 thanks to a generous gift from an anonymous donor. We recognize that for some applicants the discounted fee may still be prohibitive. As a result, we have up to five full scholarships available for applicants in need. 

Up to two of the participants from the Leadership Program will be selected to participate in a one-year paid fellowship at the Institute for Universal Rights, Health & Justice starting in January of 2027.

In summary, participants in the Leadership Program receive:

• Access to a six-week educational program that includes workshops, lectures, and small group discussions.
• Engagement and feedback on research interests and projects.
• A certificate of completion in the Leadership Program.
• The opportunity to be selected as a paid fellow with the Institute in 2027.
• The chance to expand and contribute to knowledge and skills to build a healthier, more just world.

How to Apply

The deadline for applications to the Institute for Universal Rights, Health & Justice Leadership Program is February 25, 2026. In addition to submitting a brief application form, please also email a one-page cover letter and a CV or resume to claudia@phoenixzonesinitiative.org. The email subject line should be “Leadership Program Application (Your Name).” Your cover letter should include an overview of your key areas of research, policy, or practice interests. All documents should be written using Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri, or Aptos font (size 11 or 12).

If you have any additional questions about the program or the application process, please contact our current fellow, Claudia Hirtenfelder at claudia@phoenixzonesinitiative.org for assistance.

Successful applicants will be notified about the status of their applications by the 30th of April 2026.