Apply to become a 2023-2024 National Consumer Scholar!

Applications are now being accepted for the 2023-2024 cohort of National Consumer Scholars. National Consumer Scholars have first-hand experience living with and/or caring for someone with complex health and social needs and experience working as a consumer/patient advisor, advocate, and/or community leader.

“Nothing about us without us!” We believe that people with lived experience of complex health and social needs and their caregivers are critical voices needed to inform the field of complex care. In the National Consumer Scholars program, you will have the opportunity to take part in peer-led leadership development activities, play an active role at our annual Putting Care at the Center conference, and bring lessons back to your communities. Consumer Scholars also work alongside Camden Coalition staff to develop and inform the field of complex care.

Alumni of the Consumer Scholars program have said that participating in this program helped them to:

• Expand their perspective and understanding of complex care, consumer advocacy, and consumer engagement work;
• Bring their stories and experiences to a wider, national audience; and
• Create meaningful connections with other complex care consumers and organizations doing work across the country.
• Many Consumer Scholar alumni have gone on to join our consumer voices bureau, Amplify.

Selected 2023-2024 Consumer Scholars will receive a stipend of $800 to compensate their time and effort in project work, and will have all costs covered to attend the 2023 and 2024 Putting Care at the Center conferences.

Timeline

• Application opens: April 17, 2023
• Virtual information and Q&A session (optional): May 11, 2023 at 2 pm ET/11 am PT
• Application deadline: May 31, 2023
• Top applicants invited to ZOOM/telephone interview: June 19-30, 2023
• Award letters sent: July 7, 2023
• Program kick-off meeting (required): August 1, 2023 at 3 pm ET/12 pm PT
• Putting Care at the Center 2023 conference: November 1-3, 2023 in Boston, MA

Information about the National Consumer Scholars program, including program requirements, award details, selection criteria, and more, can be found in the request for applications document.

Upcoming informational session

Have questions about the program or the application process? Want to hear directly from National Consumer Scholar alumni? Join us for a virtual information session on May 11, 2023, 2-3 pm ET/11 am-12 pm PT.

Apply now!

Applications must include a letter of support from a healthcare or social service organization that you have worked with. Please work with the organization providing your letter of support if you need help completing the application.

Please contact Evelyne Kane at [email protected] or 856-701-2793 if you have any questions.