January 5, 2009 - This fellowship is awarded in the memory of Dr. T. Leon Nicks, a lifelong advocate for access to high quality health care for all members of the community and a member of the Foundation’s Distribution Committee. Dr. Nicks graduated from Talladega College and Temple University, and received his doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from Boston University in 1960. He organized and developed the Multicultural Training and Psychology Program at Boston Medical Center. Dr. Nicks worked tirelessly to improve health care and substance abuse services as Director of the federal Department of Health & Human Services, Region One.

The Dr. Leon Nicks Memorial Physician Fellowship Program is a collaborative effort between the MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation and four Boston MetroWest health care institutions which include: Framingham Community Health Center, Marlborough Hospital, MetroWest Medical Center, and Milford Regional Medical Center. The goals of this two year fellowship program are to increase the number of physicians from diverse population groups practicing in these MetroWest institutions and to enhance patient access to culturally competent quality medical care within the Metro West Community Health Care Foundation’s catchment area.

Physicians recruited into the Dr. Leon Nicks Fellowship Program will reflect the growing diversity of the MetroWest area. Dr. Leon Nicks Fellows will be expected to participate in the following activities:

• promote culturally competent health care within their respective health care institutions
• lead institutional and community based activities to reduce barriers to care for diverse patient populations
• share best practices and network with other Dr. Leon Nicks Fellows in regularly scheduled meetings
• participate in activities that promote minority health such as conferences presentations or preparing articles for publication.

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