Competitive global marketing fellowship for university and graduate students returns for a second year, expanding into new regions worldwide

Fully funded, eight-month fellowship offers real-world marketing experience, mentorship, a one-week immersive experience at the Cannes LIONS International Festival of Creativity, and experience developing a real client brief.

NEW YORK, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 – The Effie LIONS Foundation announced today that applications are open for the second cohort of its Voices of the Future (VOTF) Fellowship. Applications close Sunday, November 22, 2026, at 6pm EST.

The Effie LIONS Foundation is a global not-for-profit organization committed to building a more creative and effective marketing industry for everyone by empowering future talent through education, experiences, and unparalleled access.

The Voices of the Future program is a fully funded, eight-month global fellowship designed to spotlight and support rising marketing talent in a cohort-based model. Through virtual learning, an in-person experience at the prestigious Cannes LIONS International Festival of Creativity, a real client brief, and access to mentors from global brands, fellows gain the hands-on experience and industry connections needed to compete in today’s evolving job market. The program’s inaugural 2026 cohort brought together a talented cohort of 12 Fellows from 10 countries.

For its second cycle, the Foundation is expanding its global reach, recruiting applicants from new priority markets.

Breaking into the marketing industry is getting more difficult. As employer expectations continue to rise, entry level roles are shrinking with many companies requiring prior experience, digital fluency, and comfort with AI tools as they recruit and hire top talent. Voices of the Future was created to close this access gap, providing skills, networks, mentorship, and real client brief experience to rising talent who are ready to shape the future of the field.

“Our first cohort of Voices of the Future Fellows proved what’s possible when we close the access gap for next generation marketing talent,” said Allison Knapp Womack, Global CEO, Effie LIONS Foundation. “With this second cycle, we’re building on that momentum, welcoming another talented cohort from around the world, into a program designed to prepare them not just for their first role, but for a long-term career in the marketing industry. In its first year, Voices of the Future gave 12 fellows an experience that will change the trajectory of their careers and possibly their lives. Through the fellowship they have seen that there is a place for them in marketing, and they are equipped with the skills, experience and networks to find that place.”

“This fellowship has truly been transformative for me!” said Samriddh Gupta, a 2026 Voices of the Future Fellow from India. “I hope more such opportunities come and change the lives of many students like me.”

Fellowship Highlights

Fellows will be selected globally for the 2027 cohort.

Selected Fellows will receive:

• Virtual learning sessions (February to September 2027)
• An in-person experience at the Cannes LIONS International Festival of Creativity in Cannes, France (June 21–25, 2027)
• Mentorship from global industry professionals
• Portfolio-ready work including strategic thinking, cultural insights, and a real client brief.

The fellowship requires a commitment of approximately four hours per week for virtual program activities, with additional time for the Cannes LIONS Festival immersion trip and real client brief work. All program activities are fully funded by the Effie LIONS Foundation through the generous support of Adobe, the program’s 2027 Presenting Sponsor, and other corporate partners.

Who Should Apply

The fellowship is open to students in their final year of full-time study at a registered post-secondary educational institution who are interested in pursuing a career in marketing.

Applicants must be interested in pursuing a career in marketing. No prior marketing experience is required – reviewers prioritize curiosity, growth potential, strategic thinking, and lived experience.

Applicants must be 18 years of age or older, proficient in written and spoken English, eligible to travel internationally with a valid passport, and available to attend the Cannes LIONS Festival in June 2027.

How to Apply

Applications are completed online and include written responses, short video responses, and a letter of recommendation. Optional work samples may also be submitted. Applications open Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 6pm EST and closes Sunday, November 22, 2026, at 6pm EST.

To apply, visit: www.effielions.org/votf.

About the Effie LIONS Foundation

The Effie Lions Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non- profit organization committed to building a more creative and effective marketing industry for everyone by empowering future talent through education, experiences, and unparalleled access. The Foundation is headquartered in New York City and is led by Global CEO, Allison Knapp Womack.

Media Contact:

Nneka Norville nneka@effielions.org

Four Exceptional Pre-Med Students Receive $50,000 Fellowship Grants to Train in Cutting-Edge Interventional Pain and Behavioral Health

New York, NY — Manhattan Restorative Health Sciences (MRHS), a leader in integrative and regenerative medicine, is proud to announce a new class of Medical Assistant Student Fellows—four outstanding future physicians who have each been awarded a $50,000 grant to participate in an immersive, 12-month fellowship focused on interventional pain and behavioral health.

The program is housed at MRHS’s flagship facilities, in Manhattan and New Hyde Park, along with satellite locations across New York City and Long Island. Designed to offer unparalleled hands-on training, this highly competitive fellowship equips students with real-world clinical experience in minimally invasive procedures, behavioral medicine, and patient-centered innovation.

“We are proud to invest in these future leaders who share our mission to move medicine forward through compassionate, evidence-based care,” said Dr. Timothy Canty, Founder and Medical Director of MRHS. “This fellowship is more than just training—it’s a partnership in transforming how we treat pain, trauma, and chronic illness.”

2026 Medical Assistant Fellows:

• Liam Chung, Pre-Med – Stony Brook University, B.S. in Biochemistry (Class of 2026). A Queens native, his own sports injuries in high school, along with his experience working in pain management, shaped the way he thinks about pain and recovery. Drawing from his experience as a Spanish interpreter at Stony Brook HOME, a free community clinic for the uninsured , he is committed to delivering holistic, patient-centered care that addresses systemic health disparities and supports recovery beyond the clinic.

• Sofia Maldonado, Pre-Med – St. John’s University, B.S. in Biology (Class of 2026). A proud Queens native with deep local roots, Sofia was inspired to pursue medicine at age 10 after witnessing an ER physician treat her grandmother. Currently pursuing a master’s in Neuroscience, she brings pediatric clinical shadowing and medical translation experience alongside strong leadership skills to the MRHS fellowship family.

• Abigail Miga, Pre-Med – Fordham University, B.S. in Biological Sciences (Class of 2026). A East Bridgewater, MA, native, Abigail spent the last four years in the Bronx completing her studies at Fordham University Rose Hill. Driven by a lifelong passion for science and a commitment to making a positive impact, she strives to master innovative clinical techniques and continually challenge herself in pursuit of a career in OBGYN or Neurology. Outside of medicine, she is an avid baker and banana bread enthusiast.

• Sage Smith, Pre-Med – University of Chicago, B.S. in Neuroscience and Spanish (Class of 2026). From Washington, D.C., Sage has conducted clinical research involving machine learning predictive models, including a model for quantifying postpartum hemorrhage risk. Outside of her academic pursuits, she is an avid triathlete and theater and opera enthusiast. She is passionate about providing compassionate relief to patients and developing innovative methods to improve clinical outcomes.

Highlighting the program’s early track record of success, both of last year’s pre-Med Fellows, Joaquin Casino and Michelle Cho, earned admission to medical school for Fall 2026, and are now attending the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Each fellow will rotate through MRHS’s interventional pain and behavioral health teams, engaging in high-volume procedural clinics, including spinal cord stimulation (SCS), peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS), kyphoplasty, Intracept, and regenerative therapies such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC). Fellows will also contribute to innovative non-opioid programs, such as Ketamine-VR therapy for treatment-resistant depression, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for PTSD and anxiety.

Fellowship Details:

• 12-month program
• $50,000 grant per fellow
• Mentorship under board-certified physicians
• Exposure to real-world healthcare delivery, EMR platforms, and multidisciplinary care planning
• Access to MRHS’s high-volume clinics, performing over 40,000 procedures annually

Next Cohort & Application Info

Applications for the next cycle open January 2027. Interested students should send their CV and cover letter to people@mrhsclinics.com.

About MRHS:

Manhattan Restorative Health Sciences is a multidisciplinary medical practice dedicated to optimizing health through integrative medicine, interventional pain procedures, regenerative therapeutics, and behavioral health support. Founded by Dr. Timothy Canty, MRHS champions a low-opioid, high-engagement model of care grounded in innovation, ethics, and equity.

Media Contact:

Manhattan Restorative Health Sciences
(917) 524-7246
info@mrhsclinics.com
www.mrhsclinics.com