leadership 2022

If you would like to nominate a young adult to the 2022 NextGen Fellowship, please complete this form.

Applications Open February 1, 2022!

Interested in applying?:

Join us for a NextGen Fellowship Info Night on January 20 at 7pm ET or February 8 at 10pm ET on Zoom for a live chat with NextGen Fellowship Alumni and CDN staff!

2022 NextGen Fellowship

In the early days of CDN, student volunteers represented the organization at diabetes conferences and events across the country. As each conference season approached, there were new opportunities to involve young adults in conversations around clinical care and innovation, which was embraced by both conference hosts and industry alike. In 2018, the first official NextGen Leadership cohort was formed. In 2021, CDN launched a new and robust Fellowship Program, combining the historical conference experience with more formal leadership training and peer connections. Due to overwhelming success and interest, we are expanding the size of our Fellowship in 2022!

We will be accepting 30 Fellows (2 cohorts of 15 fellows) to participate in this life-changing, exclusive experience for those who aspire to pursue a career in diabetes. The Fellowship runs from April-November with a rigorous schedule of leadership and professional development opportunities as well as peer connections, mentorship, and growth.

It’s no secret that diabetes has a profound impact on our lives. CDN recognizes the passion and motivation of young adults across the country to positively influence the future of diabetes care and treatment. We’ve designed this program to be educational yet inspirational, and full of peer support and professional skill building to set you up for long-term success.

3 girls standing outside in matching blue cdn fleeces

Cohort 1 - Medicine, Research & Entrepreneurship

Cohort 1 - Medicine, Research & Entrepreneurship

Apply to be a part of this cohort if you are tech savvy, dream of going into medicine to be an endocrinologist, or are jazzed about research. This cohort will feature leadership development and professional opportunities geared towards the individual interested in a career pathway in medicine, research, technology, entrepreneurship and business.

Cohort 1 Summit Series meets Wednesdays, April 13-May 25 from 8-9:30pm ET
If applying to Cohort 1 you MUST be available to attend the ADA conference in New Orleans, June 3-7, 2022. A separate internal application will be required to attend in person.

Cohort 2 - Community Health and Patient Advocacy

Apply to this cohort if your “dream job” includes patient advocacy or diabetes care and education specialist and you are on track to pursue a degree in nursing, psychology, nutrition/dietetics, social work, public health, and more. This curriculum will feature leadership workshops designed to continue to empower the individual looking to educate and advocate for people with diabetes.

Cohort 2 Summit Series meets Wednesdays, June 22-August 3 from 8-9:30pm ET. (No Session week of July 4).

If applying to cohort 2, you MUST be available to attend the ADCES conference August 12-15, 2022 In Baltimore, MD. A separate internal application will be required to attend in person.

Fellowship Components & Key Dates

Fellowship Orientation Night (April 6, 2022 *subject to change)
An hour long session to officially kick off the Fellowship Class of 2022. Meet and greet with CDN Staff, all 30 Fellows, and hear from alumni, inspirational speakers, and review of the expectations and opportunities for Fellows.

Leadership Development workshop “Summit Series”
A weekly series of interactive workshops on topics designed to inform and inspire Fellows to become productive leaders and advocates in their field of interest and within the broader diabetes community. Topics include Self Advocacy, Mental Health and Burnout, “Telling Your Story,” the “Business of Diabetes,” and more. Each week will have required reading. Come eager to learn and share your voice. These workshops expose Fellows to new opportunities in the diabetes sector, facilitate a strong and deep network of trusted peers, and provide an introduction to companies and organizations in the industry with the aim to increase Fellows’ confidence in a career path related to diabetes. Cohort 1 meets Wednesdays, April 13-May 25 and Cohort 2 meets Wednesdays, June 22-August 3.

Professional Mentorship & Networking
Having a mentor early in your career will help you network with those who have “been there, done that” and open doors in your future career. Fellows will be matched with industry professionals - physicians, nurses, researchers, entrepreneurs, lawyers, engineers, etc.

Better understanding of roles and career pathways
Access to resources and organizations for future growth
Individualized Q&A opportunities
Future reference and long term supporters

National Conference Attendance
In 2022, we are hopeful that both the ADA Scientific Sessions and ADCES Annual Meeting will be held in person. If so, you have the opportunity to apply internally to attend a 3-4 day conference full of networking, research sessions, and peer connections. Up to 10 spots for each conference will be available. Flight, lodging, food, and registration will be covered.

Industry Night (August 10, 2022)
CDN’s Corporate Members, including representatives from diabetes technology and pharmaceutical companies, will be present for this interactive evening. This is an opportunity for the young adult voice and experience to be shared directly with executive leadership at these companies. Both cohorts will participate in the session.

Public Speaking Opportunities
Fellows are CDN’s most distinguished advocates and will have the opportunity to represent their experience authentically with CDN’s programs internally as well as with peer organizations.

Final Projects
Team projects are a capstone of CDN’s NextGen Fellowship. This is an opportunity to connect your individual interests to the leadership skills and knowledge you’ve acquired through the program. Think of this as “a team thesis” which will empower you all to share your diabetes knowledge with confidence and passion in a practical and professional setting. Projects will be presented to the CDN community, staff, and board of directors during the month of November. Exact date and time TBD

Eligibility Criteria:

Young adults ages 18-26, AND have completed at least 2 years of post high school education AND/or declared a major
Have diabetes or a very close connection to diabetes
Be a US Citizen and residing in the USA from April-November 2022

Please note:

ALL workshops and sessions from April-November will take place Wednesday evenings at 8pm ET. You must be able to commit to reserving this time each week throughout the Fellowship. Past participants spent an average of 2-3 hours per week on Fellowship related activities.
With the exception of the ADA and ADCES conferences, all aspects of the Fellowship will take place virtually.

Applications must be submitted by February 28, 2022 by 11:59pm ET along with one letter of recommendation. Decisions will be announced on March 15, 2022.

Have questions? Email info@collegediabetesnetwork.org