The ULI Health Leaders Network is empowering real estate and land use professionals with the skills, knowledge, and networks to improve health outcomes in their professional practice and communities. Participants gain valuable skills and connections that will help them advance their careers, as well as practical knowledge about the intersection between health, social equity, and the built environment.

Applications for Cohort 6 will open Fall/Winter 2022. Please keep an eye out for a link to the application then.

The ULI Health Leaders Network facilitates creative collaborations within the fields of public health, planning and design, and development, and beyond, and empowers participants with actionable knowledge on development and design strategies that improve health, well-being, and social equity.

We accept applications from individuals in Europe and Asia Pacific, in addition to the Americas.

Participants in the Health Leaders Network are expected to attend three forums (two of which will be in-person), which will focus on leadership development and network building. Health Leaders will also participate in monthly interactive webinars exploring topics related to health and land use and interact with others in their cohort through cohort meetings and peer reviews of individual assignments. We encourage all participants to complete surveys we’ll be utilizing throughout the program, and we’ll potentially be interviewing participants post-program.

Meet the ULI Health Leaders: Cohort 5
Meet the ULI Health Leaders: Cohort 4
Meet the ULI Health Leaders: Cohort 3
Meet the ULI Health Leaders: Cohort 2
Meet the ULI Health Leaders: Cohort 1

ULI is grateful to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and ULI Trustee Randall Lewis for their support of this program.

Program Benefits and Goals:

1- Learn: Cultivate leadership skills to advance careers as well as learn about best practices, research, and actionable approaches to advance public health and social equity with built environment strategies.

2- Network: Be part of a robust cross-sector network of real estate and land use professionals with knowledge about connections between real estate, planning, and health.

3- Make a Difference: By advancing a culture of health in real estate and land use decision making, equitably improve health and wellness for all people.

Candidate Criteria

• Education: Undergraduate or higher degree.
• Work Experience and Background: ULI Health Leaders are a diverse group of emerging and established leaders, from a range of career stages and disciplines, including real estate development, public leadership, urban planning and design, infrastructure, law, healthcare, finance and public health. It is recommended that applicants have at least five to seven years of professional experience.
• Location: Applications are open to all regions of the globe, including ULI Europe and ULI Asia Pacific. All participants are required to attend live programming (refer to the schedule below for specific times and time zones).
• Language: All program content and communications will be in English.
• Commitment: Participants must commit to attend the monthly webinars, complete individual assignments, and attend the three forums (see below Timeline and Key Dates). If accepted to this program, you are pledging in good faith to be fully engaged and involved. Please be sure that you have approval from your organization or supervisor to participate in this program.
• Interest in Health and Social Equity: Ideal candidates will have a demonstrated interest in and commitment to improving health and social equity through their professional work.

Both ULI members and non-members are eligible to participate as Health Leaders. Non-ULI members will be expected to become Associate Members for the duration of the program. There will be a small number of membership scholarships available. If the membership fees are a hardship, please indicate this within your application.

It is the policy of ULI to provide equal opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual preference, age, or disability.

Health Leader Experience

As a woman of color, healthcare professional, and real estate development entrepreneur; being a part of the Health Leaders Network has been invaluable. The process created space for me to reflect on my lived experience with health inequities and the built environment and connect these experiences with practical solutions to co-create vibrant and healthy living spaces. – Melanie Brown, Cohort 4

I have always been keen to learn more about how other countries approach the planning for health agenda. I have really appreciated the opportunity to participate in the ULI Health Leaders Network as an international participant for the first time. It has provided so many unique opportunities to connect with others and good practice from USA and across the world, and I have been particularly impressed at the private sector representation and knowing more about what they think about and take action on the health agenda. – Michael Chang, Cohort 4

The ULI Health Leaders Network has become a network of passionate experts from sectors of our industry that I probably would not have connected with otherwise. I am grateful for these meaningful connections, which have only been enhanced as I’ve found new ways to collaborate with individuals in the program. – Kristen Fulmer, Cohort 2

Being part of the Healthy Leaders cohort has been a great learning and networking experience. The collaboration expanded my knowledge on being a better healthy design advocate – the opportunity to share real world data, experiences, and case studies was quite valuable. It was also motivating and inspiring to be working together towards a common goal of improved health benefits and outcomes in our design and development work. I’d highly recommend this program! – Todd Kohli, Cohort 2

ULI’s Health Leaders Network provided a safe space for honest and open dialogue about planning and design in our nation. The variety of careers and perspectives represented led to rich discussion.  I am both a better person and a better professional for having participated. – Leslie Meehan, Cohort 3

The ULI Health Leaders Network has opened my eyes to the breadth of ways the built environment affects our health and wellbeing. I find in every discussion that I learn something new, helping me be a more thoughtful architect and firm leader. – Paul Mellblom, Cohort 4

The ULI Health Leaders Network has provided me with the opportunity to connect with other real estate and land use professionals that are striving to improve health and equity in their communities. Through the past three years, I have had the opportunity to learn from some of the best minds in the industry about how to create healthier and more equitable spaces. The ULI Health Leaders Network was discussing the importance of diversity and equity three years before they became national topics of conversation. As a person of color working in a very white profession, I am thankful for the support provided by ULI staff and my peers during the past three years. – Luiz Nieves-Ruiz, Cohort 1

Being part of the ULI Health Leaders Network, has given me tools, insights and a deeper understanding of how public health and the built environment are not only inextricably linked but how they are connected to social equity.  The opportunity to share knowledge, including best practices, successes and hurdles with other individuals that are as committed as I am to making impactful health changes in our communities, is invaluable. – Coreen Paul, Cohort 4

Out of many remarkable educational experiences I have been privileged to have, being a member of Cohort 1 of the ULI Health Leaders Network really stands out. One of the outstanding examples of ULI’s ability to see over the horizon, the Health Leaders Network began as a cutting-edge peripheral area of real estate study of likely long-term importance but, amid the Covid-19 crisis, has rapidly become central to both real estate and healthcare: not merely life-enhancing but life-preserving.  I have moved what I have learned from the Health Leaders Network into the core of the curriculum I teach my graduate real estate students. – Chuck Schilke, Cohort 1

Being part of a group that intentionally held space for cross-sector solutions to health issues in the built environment was a dream come true. I felt at ease discussing my creative solutions with others as the entire cohort just gets it! We know the power in collaboration and see the bridge between the built environment and health equity that we need to build. – Treasure Sheppard, Cohort 4

Health Leaders Network has given us a unique opportunity within a safe and encouraging environment to have deeper conversations on race, justice, diversity, and inclusion. We’ve heard from colleagues in different professions and in different cities on ways to facilitate community engagement, build on existing cross-sector initiatives to embed equity, and how to create more equitable systems and developments aimed to dismantle systemic racism and segregation, celebrating our commonalities and diversity. Underlying all our discourse is the inherent belief that it takes real time and commitment from many different stakeholders, over the long term, to initiate and create lasting change. – Ashley Disher Spinks, Cohort 3

HLN opened doors for me.  One speaking engagement has led to three others and the momentum continues to build. Also, without HLN, as a small business owner in the niche industry of affordable housing development consulting, I would not have had the opportunity to learn about building healthy places around the country and networking with like-minded land use professionals.  I am enriched and grateful for the opportunities afforded to me by the generous donors of the HLN program.  Onward to expand the intersection of health and the built environment! – Ayako Utsumi, Cohort 1

I am proud to be the first Canadian cohort member of the ULI Health Leaders Network.  It has been an extraordinary opportunity to learn from, and collaborate with, this exceptional group of community health thought leaders, knowing that they will influence our world for the better. – Rob Voigt, Cohort 3

The ULI Health Leader Network has allowed me to expand my view and understanding of the role real estate plays in the health of our communities. This network is full of dedicated individuals committed to working together to make health access for all. – Debra Wyatte, Cohort 2

Timeline and Key Dates From Cohort 5

Cohort 5 of the Health Leaders Network runs from March to November 2022.

APPLICATION AND SELECTION

December 6, 2021	Cohort 5 Health Leaders Network applications open
Monday, January 10, 2022	Applications due by 11:59 p.m. ET
February 7-February 18, 2022	Cohort 5 candidate interviews
By Friday, February 25, 2022	Health Leaders Cohort 5 participants notified of selection
Early March 2022	Program orientation calls with small groups of Health Leaders
March 22, 2022	Official kickoff call of Cohort 5 Health Leaders Network

KEY PROGRAM DATES

Forums:

May 11-13, 2022	Cohort 5 Intro Forum (Location: Detroit, MI)
July 26, 2022	Virtual Cohort 5 Mid-Year Forum
September 28-30, 2022	Cohort 5 Closing Forum (Location: TBD)

Monthly Webinars:

Health Leaders will participate in up to two monthly webinars.
The first Tuesday of the month (dates below) from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. ET is reserved for cohort-based communications (in full and small groups)

Dates for 2022 monthly Health Leaders calls: April 5, May 3, June 7, July 5, August 2, September 6, and November 1.

The third Tuesday of the month (dates below) from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. ET is reserved for podcast Q&As with experts in the health, social equity, and built environment field.

Dates for 2022 monthly expert webinars: April 26 (*note- fourth Tuesday of April), June 21, July 19, August 16, October 18. 2022 topics and speakers TBD. Past topics have included:

• Partnerships for Health Equity & Opportunity
• The Business Case for Healthy Buildings
• The Impact of Identity & Culture on Health and Social Ties in the Built Environment
• Increasing Inclusivity and Diversity to Make Cities, Communities, and Developments for All
• Leveraging Healthcare Institutions to Strengthen Communities and Combat Social Inequities
• Parks and Public Space: The Impact on Health and Equity in our Communities
• Anti-Displacement and Gentrification
• Health, Resiliency, and Climate Change
• Health and Housing
• Neighborhood Foodscape Strategies

Optional Quarterly Healthy Happy Hour Webinars:

Health Leaders will be invited to join their cohort and alumni in quarterly virtual happy hours. Dates and times below.

Dates for 2022 quarterly Health Leaders Healthy Happy Hour webinars: February 22, May 24, August 30, and November 8 from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. ET.

Learn More

Please be in touch at health@uli.org with any questions or comments.