Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Health Policy Fellows Program (US)

Deadline: 01-Nov-23

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is inviting outstanding midcareer health professionals, behavioral and social scientists and others with an interest in health and the drivers of health who are skilled and committed; with expertise in health and health equity and can offer an informed perspective on important and complex challenges facing policymakers.

The RWJF Health Policy Fellows program provides the nation’s most comprehensive learning experience at the nexus of health, science, and policy in Washington, D.C. It is an outstanding opportunity for exceptional midcareer health professionals and behavioral/social scientists with an interest in advancing health and health equity through policy change. Fellows participate in the policy process at the federal level and leverage that leadership experience to promote policies, practices, and systems changes that advance health and health equity.

The fellowship requires a full-time commitment with a minimum 12-month residence in Washington, D.C., which prepares individuals to influence the future of health and its drivers in the nation.

The fellowship begins in September with an intensive three-and-a-half-month orientation arranged by the NAM, during which time the fellows meet with national leaders well-versed in health, healthcare policy, health equity, social determinants of health, and structural racism; think tanks and interest groups; key executive branch officials; and members of Congress and their staffs. Fellows also participate in seminars on health economics; the congressional budget process; current priority issues in federal health policy; and the process for federal decisionmaking. The concentrated orientation is designed to prepare the fellows for immediate success in federal legislative and executive branch positions.

Solely under the supervision of the office in which they are placed, fellows typically will:

• Help develop legislative or regulatory proposals;
• Organize hearings, briefings, and stakeholder meetings;
• Meet with constituents; and
• Brief legislators or senior administration officials on a range of health issues.

Funding Information

• Stipend: $175,000 per fellow over a period of 12–24 months for up to eight fellows.
• Housing/Relocation: Fellows will be directly reimbursed for relocation and approved housing expenses through separate funds within limits specified by the NAM and RWJF.

Eligibility Criteria

• Exceptional midcareer professionals from academic institutions, not-for-profit organizations, or government (including military; U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs; U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps; and state offices who are not considered government officials under Section 4946 of the Internal Revenue Code);
• Applicants must have earned an advanced degree (masters or doctoral degree);
• In addition, applicants must have deep experience and subject matter expertise in a health-related discipline. Examples include but are not limited to medicine; nursing; public health; law, dentistry; economics and other social sciences (especially disciplines related to factors that influence population health, such as housing, transportation, nutrition, wealth, employment, education, and environmental and community conditions); health services and social work/behavioral health; and other health professions;
• Applicants whose official job description or responsibilities are primarily government relations or advocacy are not eligible;
• Individual candidates for receipt of award funds must be U.S. citizens, or permanent residents at the time of application. Because the RWJF Health Policy Fellows are placed in assignments in the federal government, changes in federal policy or law may necessitate that RWJF consider adjustments in eligibility and grant terms, as well as placements in the program.
• Additionally, individual candidates for receipt of award funds cannot be related by blood or marriage to any Officer or Trustee of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, or be a descendant of its founder, Robert Wood Johnson.

For more information, visit Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.