Donna Biederman was recently selected as one of 15 three-person teams to join Interdisciplinary Research Leaders, a new program led by the University of Minnesota with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). Biederman will join researchers and community leaders from across the country to collaborate and innovate to solve persistent challenges and advance a culture of health.

As part of the program Biederman and colleagues Dr. Mina Silberberg with Duke Division of Community Health and Emily Carmody with the NC Coalition to End Homelessness, will study two supportive housing programs in North Carolina that are recognized as leaders in their field. Along the way they are developing high-level leadership skills through professional coaching, mentoring, networking and an advanced leadership curriculum.

Additional partners providing training and coaching to fellows include AcademyHealth, Allina Health, ISAIAH and Local Initiatives Support Corporation.

Interdisciplinary Research Leaders is a groundbreaking program supporting teams of researchers and community partners to bridge the gap between the pressing needs of communities and health research and policy efforts, collaborate in new ways to create a healthier, more equitable future, and develop leadership skills to advance a culture of health enabling all people to live longer, healthier lives now and for generations to come.

It is one of four new national leadership development programs launched this year by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to extend the influence and impact of leaders working to build a culture of health.