Eligibility

Exceptional mid-career professionals from academic faculties; 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);* and nonprofit health organizations, who are interested in experiencing the health policy process at the federal level, are encouraged to apply.

• Applicants must have earned an advanced degree in one of the following disciplines: medicine; nursing; public health; allied health professions; biomedical sciences; dentistry; economics or other social sciences; health services organization and administration; social and behavioral health; or health law.
• Applicants whose official job description or responsibilities are primarily government relations or advocacy are not eligible to apply.
• Applicants 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 these purposes, government officials are defined as any person who holds one of the following:

1. An elective public office in the executive or legislative branch of the Government of the United States;
2. An office in the executive or judicial branch of the Government of the United States, appointment to which was made by the President;
3. A position in the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States—(A) which is listed in schedule C of rule VI of the Civil Service Rules, or (B) the compensation for which is equal to or greater than the lowest rate of basic pay for the Senior Executive Service under section 5382 of title 5, United States Code;
4. A position under the House of Representatives or the Senate of the United States held by an individual receiving gross compensation at an annual rate of $15,000 or more;
5. An elective or appointive public office in the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the government of a State, possession of the United States, or political subdivision or other area of any of the foregoing, or of the District of Columbia, held by an individual receiving gross compensation at an annual rate of $20,000 or more, and a significant part of whose activities include "the independent performance of policymaking functions.”
6. A position as personal or executive assistant or secretary to any of the foregoing; or
7. A member of the Internal Revenue Service Oversight Board.

Prior to selection, any finalist who is a government employee will be required to furnish a letter from the applicant’s supervisor confirming that the applicant is not a government official under this definition.

**The Officers are the Chair of the Board of Trustees; President and CEO; Executive Vice President; General Counsel; Secretary; Assistant Secretary; Treasurer; and Chief Investment Officer of the Foundation.