Feature Stories and Interviews
For nearly 50 years, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellows Program has sought to build a strong, diverse network of leaders and maintain a workforce skilled in health policy. By connecting health professionals with the first-hand opportunity to participate in the federal policy process, this nonpartisan program aims to improve health equity, health care, and health policy.
Hear from RWJF fellows, alumni, & expert briefers. who speak to the dynamic learning opportunity. which allows fellows to translate their health knowledge & directly shape federal health policy and participate in a rich exchange of information with government officials.
From Front-Line Practice to Policymaking: How the RWJF Health Policy Fellows Program Helped David Keahey Open New Doors
Hear from David Keahey on how the RWJF fellowship helps clinicians have an impact on the design of policy & care systems.
He reflects on how he brought the front-line, rural clinician experience to discussions about the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act during his tenure as a fellow.
Sending Clinicians to Congress: The Need for Real-World Clinical Experience to Inform Health Policymaking in Washington
Dr. Andy Gettinger reflects on his experience in the RWJF Health Policy Fellows program to discuss how his expertise and passions shaped his career and advice for prospective fellows.
He reflects on how the experience allowed him to bring more attention to his passion: the field of clinical informatics.
From Tragedy to a Purpose-Driven Life: How Dr. Joseph Sakran Transformed Personal Adversity into Public Policy with the RWJF Health Policy Fellowship
Hear from Dr. Joseph Sakran on how the RWJF Health Policy Fellows program allowed him to build relationships and understand what's happening where policy meets practice in this feature story.
He reflects on his time in the RWJF Health Policy Fellows program, focusing on the potential for clinicians to impact populations by getting involved with policy.
How The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Has Influenced Health Policy – And My Own Life – For Five Decades
Writing in Forbes, RWJF Fellow Dr. William Frist shares his perspective on the 50-year-old Fellowship program on health policy and how it shaped his career.
During his tenure as Senate Majority Leader (2003-2007), he worked with RWJF Fellows to improve health for all and quickly recognized the generation of health policy leaders the program produced.
The original uploader of this image was sourced via Wikimedia Commons in the Public domain. Originally posted by Minesweeper.
Life After the Fellowship
The RWJF Health Policy Fellows program is a transformational experience offering fellows the chance to envision their career paths from an entirely different angle.
Five former RWJF Fellows share how their experiences on the Hill impacted their careers and offered opportunities. Learn more about life after the fellowship in this new feature story.
From Clinical Psychology to Public Policy: How Dr. Kimberlyn Leary Took Clinical Experience to the White House with the RWJF Health Policy Fellows
In an interview about her experience as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellow, Dr. Kimberlyn Leary explores the connection between mental health services, funding, and public policy decisions.
During her fellowship, she was able to utilize her expertise in mental health to launch a key equity initiative from the White House. Leary also offers advice to prospective applicants and the lasting value this experience has offered.
The RWJF Health Policy Fellows Program Offers Insider Access to Life on Capitol Hill
A feature story from the RWJF Health Policy Fellows program looks at the 9-month placement period where new fellows seek to make their mark on the dynamic landscape of American health policy.
Learn more about the mutually beneficial exchange of information the Fellowship Program facilitates between government officials, lawmakers, and fellows.
"Transformative": The RWJF Health Policy Fellows Orientation Is a Crash Course in American Health Policy
A feature story from the RWJF Health Policy Fellows program looks at the unique 3.5-month orientation period that prepares new fellows for the dynamic landscape of American health policy.
Learn how expert briefers cultivate engaging, relevant experiences that prepare fellows for Capitol Hill, and about how the orientation process facilitates deep learning and comradery from current RWJF fellows and alumni.
Bringing a Local Public Health Perspective to Federal Policy Making: Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson Reflects on Her RWJF Fellowship
In an interview about her experience as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellow, Commissioner Kirsten Johnson reflects on raising her expertise with local health policy at the federal level, the community of fellows, and the skills she brought back to inform her city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Johnson also offers advice to prospective applicants and the lasting value this experience has offered.
How to Advance Health Equity Through Health Policy
Reginald Tucker-Seeley discusses the current state of inequity in the U.S. health care system and the importance of involving people with diverse backgrounds in the policymaking process to achieve more equitable outcomes on the Health Podcast Network.
He also reflects on how the RWJF Health Policy Fellows program provides health experts the tools needed to break into the health policy landscape and enact real, lasting change.
Connect with Us!
Become part of a community of leaders on our new LinkedIn Showcase page! Engage with current RWJF Health Policy Fellows, other prospective applicants, and program alumni today!