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Essential Women’s Leadership Academy

The Essential Women’s Leadership Academy (EWLA) is a mentor-centric leadership program that seeks to boost confidence, improve leadership competencies, and provide the necessary tools and support to elevate careers. The program aims to transform organizational culture to decrease the gender gap in executive-level positions at essential hospitals. EWLA is a 10-month leadership program designed to build a community of confident and empowered executives who lead essential hospitals in meeting the challenges of our nation’s most vulnerable populations.

Applications for the 2027 class will open soon

Program Goals 

  • Increase participants’ confidence and strengthen the leadership skills needed to succeed as an executive 
  • Provide the necessary tools and support to help advance participants’ careers 
  • Build a strong community of executives among America’s Essential Hospitals membership and beyond 

Program Components 

  • Leadership development training: The program comprises three highly interactive in-person classroom sessions that include case studies, group work, and presentations from essential hospital leaders and subject matter experts. 
  • Self-assessment: Each participant will have the opportunity to assess their leadership strengths and weaknesses and discover opportunities to improve.  
  • Mentorship: Each participant will be paired with a mentor to work collaboratively via monthly check-in calls and in-person sessions to develop the mentees’ career path. 
  • Site visit: Mentees will complete an in-person site visit to their mentor’s organization. 
  • Networking: The program includes networking opportunities with leaders across the membership who share a similar mission, as well as participation in fun activities outside of the classroom.  

Who Should Participate? 

EWLA is open to employees of America’s Essential Hospitals member organizations. It is specifically designed for leaders in the manager or director position who are highly interested in career advancement and have at least five years of experience in health care. Admission to EWLA is selective. Applicants should demonstrate intellectual curiosity, a commitment to the mission of essential hospitals, and a desire to strengthen their leadership capacity through mentorship and shared learning. Participants are expected to contribute their experiences and perspectives, engage openly with mentors and peers, participate fully in all program activities, and help cultivate a trusted and supportive learning community.  

Key Dates 

  • Sept. 28, 2026: Applications open 
  • Nov. 30, 2026: Applications close 
  • Dec. 15, 2026: Applicants will be notified of acceptance 
  • March 29–31, 2027: Session 1, held in New Orleans, in conjunction with the Siegel Fellows Leadership Program 
  • July 28–29, 2027: Session 2, held in Washington, D.C. 
  • Nov. 3–4, 2027: Session 3, held in Washington, D.C. 

Program Cost 

Tuition is $18,500, which includes: 

  • Three in-person sessions 
  • Access to leading health care experts and association member CEOs 
  • One-on-one mentoring 
  • Curriculum materials 
  • Some meals 

Each participant’s sponsoring organization is responsible for travel and lodging expenses. 

America’s Essential Hospitals covers mentors’ costs. 

Refund policy: Participants will be invoiced in January. Tuition fees are nonrefundable within 45 days of Session 1. 

NOMINATION PROCESS 

Each applicant must be nominated by the organization’s CEO. If the applicant is accepted, America’s Essential Hospitals will partner with the participant’s sponsor and direct supervisor to optimize the program’s benefit to the participant and his or her sponsoring organization. The sponsor can be the organization’s CEO, another senior leader, or the participant’s direct supervisor. Each sponsor/direct supervisor will attest their commitment to: 

  • Support each participant in program activities 
  • Meet with participant before the first session and after each subsequent session to discuss expectations while in the program and their progress 
  • Outline goals for mentor-mentee relationship 

Questions?

Please contact Manager of Education Vashon Coehins at vcoehins@essentialhospitals.org.