Become an Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health at GBHI

Join a global community of more than 300 Atlantic Fellows from over 65 countries worldwide, dedicated to protecting the world’s aging populations from threats to brain health. The Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health program at the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) provides innovative training, networking, and support to emerging leaders focused on improving brain health and reducing the impact of dementia in their local communities and on a global scale. It is one of seven global Atlantic Fellows programs to promote societies that expand opportunity, improve health, and foster belonging.

The program is for professionals from a wide range of disciplines, including the arts, sciences, economics, policy, medicine, journalism, community-based practice and much more. Whatever the discipline, we are looking for individuals working in the area of brain health and dementia who have great ideas, enthusiasm and leadership potential. 

Applications for the 2026–27 fellowship cycle at both UCSF and Trinity are now closed. Information about future opportunities will be shared here when available.

Important Update about GBHI at UCSF

Beginning with the 2026–27 fellowship year, GBHI at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) will offer a global hybrid program designed to connect fellows from around the world. Fellows will engage in weekly online learning and collaboration throughout the year and participate in three international in-person program weeks.

This part-time program is designed for working professionals advancing equity and innovation in brain health. Fellows commit an average of  4-6 hours per week, including live sessions on Tuesdays (8–10 a.m. Pacific Time), preparation, mentor meetings every two weeks., Employer support to participate is encouraged.

The fellowship at GBHI at Trinity College Dublin (Trinity) will continue as a full-time, in-person program based in Dublin.

Fellowship Highlights

1. Undertake a year-long fellowship based at GBHI at Trinity (in-person) in Ireland or GBHI at UCSF (global hybrid) in the United States, combining online learning with international in-person sessions.
2. Connect with world-class fellows, faculty, and staff for career-long collaborations in research, clinical practice, and policymaking.
3. Embrace a common program structure enriched by the unique aspects and expertise of our two sites.
4. Study an interdisciplinary curriculum of neurology, health economics, epidemiology, law and ethics, leadership, health policy, creativity, and research.
5. Foster leadership abilities through tailored development programs and hands-on skills training.
6. Receive one-to-one mentoring on projects aimed at advancing brain health.
7. Apply for competitively awarded funds for pilot projects.
8. Achieve academic distinction with the prestigious Certificate in Equity in Brain Health awarded by UCSF or Trinity.
9. Engage with a global community of seven Atlantic Fellows programs to promote fairer, healthier, and more inclusive societies.

Benefits of Fellowship

Curriculum

Fellows at both sites participate in an interdisciplinary curriculum focused on brain health, dementia, and health equity. Learning is grounded in lived experiences of people with dementia and includes case-based and experiential components. Fellows develop skills in communication, research design, leadership, and advocacy—preparing them to become transformative leaders in brain health. 

Career Development and Pilot funding

Throughout the program and beyond fellows will receive career mentorship from faculty at GBHI and in their local community. Mentors will help fellows to realize their goals and be transformative and will assist them in applying for competitive pilot awards of up to $25,000 to begin an ambitious project in their home community.

Lifelong Fellowship

Becoming an Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health at GBHI doesn’t end upon completion of the program. In fact, our fellows become part of a lifelong engaged community which extends and amplifies the impact of the fellowship. The inter professional and interdisciplinary nature of the program encourages collaborations across sectors and each fellow contributes greatly to the cohort through sharing their experience and expertise.

Fellowship Sites

Atlantic Fellows at GBHI join the program for a year at either UCSF or Trinity. Both sites share a commitment to advancing equity in brain health and follow a common program structure while drawing on their unique local and institutional strengths.

Fellows at Trinity complete a full-time, in-person fellowship based in Dublin. Fellows at UCSF complete a part-time, global hybrid fellowship that blends weekly online learning with international in-person sessions and optional visits to San Francisco.

While both programs share the same core structure and values, they are locally delivered, reflecting each site’s expertise and context. Fellows also connect through shared workshops and activities, including the GBHI Annual Conference.

Applicants must select one site for their fellowship-year experience when applying. 

Compare Site Opportunities

Eligibility Criteria

A typical Atlantic Fellow engages across disciplines, breaks down traditional barriers, and is committed to resolving issues around the inequities in brain health and dementia around the world.

Eligibility Criteria (Minimum Requirements)

Applicants must meet the following requirements to be considered:

• Willingness and availability to complete a year of fellowship training: in-person at Trinity (Ireland) or through the global hybrid program at UCSF (United States).
• Proficiency in English.
• Completion of a field-specific terminal degree or equivalent professional training.
• Ability to travel internationally as required.

Tips for a Succesful Application

• Long-term commitment to the values, mission, and goals of the program, including a potential pilot project following the fellowship year.
• The ability to bring creative and relevant projects to fruition.
• Ideas that could transform brain health in communities facing barriers to health and opportunity.

Regional Support

Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health come from across the globe and are expected to have a meaningful impact in their home communities once the fellowship training year is complete. To help ensure success, Atlantic Fellows must have regional support and mentorship in the communities where they hope to make impact. Applicants will be asked to outline in their applications who their regional mentors will be and how they will help them be transformative in their home country. We know that mentorship can mean different things to different people and in different places, so please read more about mentorship for further information.

Education and Training

Applicants from all disciplines and professional backgrounds are encouraged to apply. They should have a strong foundation of experience and expertise and be ready to advance meaningful and impactful work. Applicants should complete the highest degree and associated training they wish to obtain in their particular field. This includes but is not limited to competitive applicants who have:

• Artists or other creative professionals: A portfolio, an interest in improving the lives of people living with dementia and their care partners, a public platform to showcase their portfolio.
• Physicians: Completed an MD, residency and other fellowship specialties, have an interest in improving clinical practice.
• Researchers: Completed a PhD and postdoctoral training, have an interest in generating and distributing knowledge to advance the field of brain health and dementia prevention.
• Innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and other professionals: Developed significant expertise in their field and track record of achievement.

Application Process

Applications are competitively reviewed and select applicants will be invited to interview. Interviews are by invitation only. All applicants are notified of their interview status by email.

Key Dates

Applications

• Open: May 30, 2025
• Close (Trinity): September 19, 2025
• Close (UCSF): November 21, 2025

Selection Process

Trinity

• Invitations to interview: End of October 2025
• Final decisions: Mid-December 2025

UCSF

• Invitations to interview: Early January 2026
• Final decisions: Mid-February 2026

Application Components

1. Online application
2. Resume or curriculum vitae
3. Statements of Purpose: Applicants will be required to write thoughtful and succinct responses related to their interest in the program and future goals.
4. Two letters of support:

• Letters are required to demonstrate regional commitment to an applicant's success. We are looking for applicants who demonstrate leadership potential and have a support network beyond the Global Brain Health Institute. Specifically, GBHI seeks applicants with robust support networks committed to the future career and ambition of the applicant upon return to the Atlantic Fellow’s home community. These support networks may include current and past partners, institutions, organizations, employers and groups.
• Therefore, at least one letter of reference should be from a current employer, institution, organization or group you have engaged with previously. We expect this letter to articulate support for the application and specifically address the applicant’s leadership potential. In addition, these letters should demonstrate a long-term commitment to supporting the applicant and their work after completion of the Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health program. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants are advised to request letters of support from their letter writers early. Applicants are responsible for contacting their preferred letter writers directly and must confirm:

• They are willing to write a letter and can submit it online by the noted deadline.
• Their correct email address which is required for this application form.
• They understand the Letters of Support: Guidelines for Writers.

Letter writers will receive an automated email with a link to submit their letter after applicants submit their application.

Applications will be considered incomplete unless all required materials have been submitted. 

Each application component is important and evaluated thoroughly.

The program is conducted in English. Applications must be submitted in English. 

After interviews have concluded, selected applicants will be required to submit official transcripts for further evaluation. Detailed instructions will be provided at that stage of the application process.

Information Webinars

Applicants must select their preferred site during the application process. Our webinars—an overview of the fellowship plus sessions for the GBHI sites at UCSF and Trinity—are designed to help prospective applicants explore each location and determine which best aligns with their goals and interests.

View recordings of our previous webinars below.

FAQs & Resources

If you have a question which hasn’t been answered in our fellowship application webpages and webinars, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions 

If you still can’t find what you need, please email staff at one of our two sites: 

•    GBHI at Trinity: GBHIApply@tcd.ie
•    GBHI at UCSF: GBHIApply@ucsf.edu

Stay Connected

Sign up for the GBHI Newsletter to receive application updates and other news from the Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health program.

More Brain Health Equity Opportunities

Apply to Fellowship  

Thank you for your interest in joining a community dedicated to advancing brain health and creating a healthier future for all. Applications for the 2026–27 fellowship cycle are now closed. Information about the next application cycle will be shared on this page when available.