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Faculty Fellowship

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THE 2025-2026 FACULTY FELLOWSHIP. Applications for 2026-2027 will open in September of 2025.

Now in its sixth year, the PALLA faculty fellowship is a unique opportunity for PAs to engage in a 10-month, structured, professional development program while earning graduate credits toward a DMSc. Now in its sixth year, the PALLA fellowship is a unique opportunity for practicing PAs to engage in a 10-month, structured, professional development training program. Applying active-learning experiences and case-based design, the fellowship cultivates essential skills needed by a PA faculty member in teaching, scholarship, and service.

Fellows will participate in virtual seminars, workshops and individual-group mentorship delivered by an interprofessional team of educators/scholars. The fellowship explores important topic areas such as adult learning theories, curricular design and development, inclusive pedagogy, instructional strategies, learning assessments, best practices in simulation, PA program accreditation, the scholarship of teaching and learning, and academic leadership within PA education.

PALLA is centrally located at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). UMB is the founding campus of the University System of Maryland and serves as Maryland’s public health, law, and human services university. As the health sciences campus, UMB is uniquely positioned to apply principles of interprofessional education, innovation, and entrepreneurship to advance health and social equality.

Fellowship Terms

The PALLA faculty fellowship consists of a 10-month professional development program, beginning annually in August. Fellows will participate in required, synchronous virtual activities on Thursdays from 3pm-5pm. Fellows will also work independently and with their mentors on various assigned projects. Fellows who live or work in Maryland can earn a stipend in the amount of $20,000, to offset clinical practice time, and use towards conference travel and other expenses. Upon completion of all fellowship requirements, fellows will earn up to 32 hours of category 1 CME and be eligible for up to six UMB1 non-degree graduate level credits. Applicants accepted from outside of Maryland are not eligible for the stipend, but may still enroll in the graduate coursework at the UMB SGS current tuition and fees rates. 

1 Pending Graduate School approval

Fellowship Application Requirements

For consideration, applicants must submit the following materials:

· Cover letter describing how the applicant’s academic, employment, and/or personal experience support the expectations of the fellowship and a statement of interest that outlines career goals reflective of the roles (teaching, scholarship, and service) of a faculty position. The letter should also describe how the applicant intends to foster diverse and inclusive learning environments; please share prior examples if applicable.

· A complete resume or curriculum vitae

· Two professional letters of recommendation (one letter must be obtained from a licensed Physician Assistant/Associate)

· Verification of attainment of academic credentials and certification by NCCPA (unofficial transcripts are sufficient documentation of education)

· Verification of Maryland PA licensure

While the University of Maryland System institutions are not obligated to offer any fellow a faculty appointment upon completion of their fellowship, the fellowship program is intended as a step toward a fellow’s development as a potential faculty member within the system or another institution of higher education.

Fellowship Expectations and Requirements

Under the mentorship of the PALLA team, each fellow will develop their educational and scholarly portfolio. Each fellow will be required to develop educational materials and engage in a microteaching experience. In addition, fellows will be provided opportunities to collaborate on manuscripts, grant/foundation proposals, conference proposals as well as community outreach, service learning and/or interprofessional educational activities. Each fellow (with a mentor) is required to generate a scholarly product (such as a poster proposal, an abstract submission, manuscript, etc.) and is encouraged to prepare and/or give at least one presentation in their area of clinical expertise at a state, national or international conference during or within one year of the tenure of the fellowship. All publications, conference presentations, and seminars authored or co-authored by the fellow must acknowledge support by the University of Maryland Baltimore, Physician Assistant Leadership and Learning Academy.

My professional goals were significantly impacted by my experience in the Physician Assistant Leadership and Learning Academy (PALLA) fellowship years ago. It catalyzed my ability to improve curricular designs and my own instructional contributions, fostering a more intentional, learner-centered experience. Further, I was able to integrate what I learned with my own passions, such as systems-efficiency and workforce well-being. Linking assessments with curricula became methodical and were skills I was able to directly use in my day-to-day work, both inside and outside of academia. There was support through the entire fellowship with a focus of meeting your individualized needs for success. I have continued to recommend other clinicians and faculty to participate as I truly believe in the empowerment it fosters for students, faculty, students, and the future workforce.  
Laurarose Dunn-O'Farrell, PA-C, LCPCFellow Testimonial
I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to complete the PALLA Fellowship. I applied hoping to gain a better understanding of PA leadership and education, but received much more than that. PALLA allowed me to learn not only from the amazing faculty, but from my co-fellows who are leaders in the profession. As a result of the assessment, curriculum design, and simulation training PALLA provided, I was able to complete a project on the integration of PAs into the University of Maryland Medical Center/Shock Trauma Center APP Fellowship and now serve as part of the leadership team. PALLA continues to provide opportunities for growth and education, as well as a network of truly exceptional PA leaders.
Erin Niles, PA-CFellow Testimonial

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