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“The year, the fellowship, and seeing how policy worked, changed how I felt about the impact I really could make,” said Grace Lin, 2023-24 RWJF Fellow. By Marisa Coulton Dr. Grace Lin had already made a name for herself in the world of cardiology. She was Division Vice Chair for Heart Failure at the Mayo…

The knowledge and network are truly world-class, fellows say By Marisa Coulton Transformative. Unforgettable. Enriching. Exciting. These are just a few words alumni have used to describe the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Health Policy Fellows Program. Each year, the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) and RWJF Advisory Board select several mid-career health and health…

The program is “a phenomenal opportunity to grow,” says Bindman By Marisa Coulton Dr. Andy Bindman, an internal medicine specialist and executive vice president and chief medical officer of Kaiser Permanente, first became interested in health policy years ago. At the time, he was teaching University of California San Francisco students and residents in his…

By Marisa Coulton Dr. Michelle Dennison loved her work as a diabetes dietitian in a clinic, but it was quickly burning her out.She saw that her patients were coming up against obstacles outside of her control. For example, they told her that they couldn’t afford the healthy foods she recommended, that they needed more cost-effective…

As the RWJF Health Policy Fellows Program marks five decades, alumni and program directors reflect on the program’s impact By Marisa Coulton The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Health Policy Fellows program enables mid-career professionals to have a lasting impact on the health policy landscape. David Keahey was a fellow from 2015-16. His most memorable…

By Marisa Coulton Barbara Incardona Damron is unstoppable. For decades, the University of New Mexico professor has made waves in the health policy world at the municipal, state, and federal level. Through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Health Policy Fellows program and the force of her own will, Damron has been able to fly…

Perone advocates for the health needs of LGBTQIA+ older adults By Marisa Coulton Angie Perone is one of California’s foremost elder health policy experts. She currently works at the University of California, Berkeley, where she serves as an assistant professor in the School of Social Welfare and director of the Center for the Advanced Study…