Health and Aging Policy Fellows

Supported by The Atlantic Philanthropies and administered by Columbia University, this national program seeks to provide professions in health and aging with the experience and skills necessary to make a positive contribution to the development and implementation of health policies that affect older Americans.  The program will offer two different tracks for individual placement:  (1) a residential track that includes a nine-to-12-month placement in Washington, D.C. or at a state agency (as a legislative assistant in Congress, a professional staff member in an executive agency or in a policy organization; and (2) a non-residential track that includes a health policy project and brief placement(s) throughout the yeaer at relevant sites.  Core program components focused on career development and professional enrichment are provided for fellows in both tracks.

The residential track Health and Aging Policy Fellows will have the opportunity to participate in the full range of APSA Congressional Fellowship opportunities including the intensive November orientation to the Congress; the biweekly Wilson Seminar Series which enlarges the legislative experience through discussions with various legislative support arms as the Congressional Research Service, Congressional Budget Office, and the Government Accountability Office; and the possibility of participating in the parliamentary exchange with Canada.  The non-residential Fellows will participate, as appropriate, in these same programs. 

The program is open to physicians, nurses and social workers at all career stages (early, mid, and late) with demonstrated commitment to health and aging issues and a desire to be involved in health policy at the federal, state or local level.  Other professionals with clinical backgrounds (e.g. pharmacists, dentists, clinical psychologists) working in the field of health and aging are also eligible to apply.  Under special circumstances, exceptions may be made for non-clinicians who are in positions that can impact health policy for older Americans at a clinical level. 

The goal of the Health and Aging Policy Fellowship is to create a cadre of professional leaders who will serve as positive change agents in health and aging policy, helping to shape a healthy and productive future for older Americans.  To this end, the fellowship seeks assistance in informing potential candidates of this new opportunity.

For further information, please visit  www.healthandagingpolicy.org or contact the Director, Harold Alan Pincus M.D. pincush@pi.cpmc.columbia.edu or Phuc Huynh, Deputy Director of the program huynhpt@pi.cpmc.columbia.edu or 212-543-6213 directly.

• More on the APSA Congressional Fellowship Program