The Center for Excellence in Public Health Leadership at Kennedy Krieger Institute offers two programs designed to provide educational opportunities for undergraduate and graduate-level students in the fields of public health, maternal and child health, infectious diseases, and developmental disabilities. These leadership opportunities focus on understanding the factors that promote health through clinical, research, and community engagement and advocacy activities.

The mission of the Center is to develop scholars and leaders who use culturally relevant, evidence-based, and health promotion activities to inform research, practice, advocacy, and policies that optimize optimal child brain development. Our programs are funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Center for Excellence in Public Health Leadership welcomes all eligible candidates to apply, regardless of race, ethnicity, or other protected characteristics.

Please Note:

Our innovative and “real world” experiential training programs include:

Undergraduate Fellowship Program Opportunities 

Maternal Child Health Careers/Research Initiatives For Student Enhancement (MCHC/RISE-UP) Program — Summer

MCHC-/RISE-UP scholars gather for a photo outside of Kennedy Krieger Institute.

Graduate Programs

Dr. James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases Research Initiatives For Student Enhancement (RISE) Fellowship

Ferguson Rise scholars in a group photo outside of Kennedy Krieger Institute.

Our Values:

An illustration of a tree that lists values on purple leavers. Clockwise, the leaves read: Strive for Excellence, Open Communication-Listen Actively, Learn From Each Other, Use Creative Evidence-Base Problem Solving, Integrity, Accountability & Ethics, Promote Health & Wellness, Embrace Change & Flexibility