Six Health Professionals Selected For Competitive RWJF Health Policy Fellows Program at the IOM

July 15, 2013

National Academy of MedicineWASHINGTON — The Institute of Medicine (IOM) and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) today named the 2013-2014 class of RWJF Health Policy Fellows. Beginning in September, the six health professionals selected will spend a year in Washington, D.C., working on health-related legislative and regulatory issues with members of Congress and the executive branch. They will also engage in seminars and discussions on health policy and participate in leadership development programs.

The fellows were chosen in a national competition for highly accomplished health professionals and behavioral and social scientists who have an interest in health policy. Their experiences in Washington will enrich their understanding of public policy formation and the ways federal and state government relate to the mission of their home institutions and local communities. The fellows will undertake a three-month orientation program, followed by a nine-month assignment in a congressional office or in the executive branch where they will be involved in health legislation and programs. After their Washington assignment, fellows will continue to receive support to sustain their development as health policy leaders.

“The year ahead promises to be both a critical and challenging time in federal health policy, and that will bring great opportunities to our six fellows,” said Marie Michnich, director of the RWJF Health Policy Fellows at IOM. “These exceptionally talented fellows will bring a level of expertise to their congressional or executive office assignments that will help policymakers shape the future of health and health care. They will learn a great deal this year as well as become valuable contributors.”

The 2013-2014 fellows are:

  • Amir Afkhami, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor, departments of psychiatry and behavior sciences and global health, and associate director of psychiatry residency training, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
  • Nadine Braunstein, Ph.D., R.D., director of allied health, College of Health Professions, Towson University, Towson, Md.
  • Wendi Gosliner, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D., nutrition specialist, Dr. Robert C. and Veronica Atkins Center for Weight and Health, University of California, Berkeley
  • Shannon Hader, M.D., M.P.H., vice president and director, Center for Health Systems and Solutions, The Futures Group, Washington, D.C.
  • Ronald Kline, M.D., medical director, Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada, Las Vegas
  • Maria-Rosa Watson, D.D.S., M.S., Dr.P.H., epidemiologist and research director, Primary Care Coalition of Montgomery County Inc., Gaithersburg, Md.

The RWJF Health Policy Fellows is a national program of the foundation with direction and technical assistance provided by IOM. Established in 1973 at the IOM with a grant from RWJF, the fellowship program develops the abilities of outstanding midcareer health professionals in academic and community-based settings by providing them with an understanding of the health policy process. More than 250 fellows from universities, colleges, and other health-related organizations across the nation have participated in this program. Additional information can be found at https://healthpolicyfellows.org.

Established in 1970 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine provides independent, objective, evidence-based advice to policymakers, health professionals, the private sector, and the public. The National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council make up the National Academies.

Contact:

Jennifer Walsh, Senior Media Officer
Office of News and Public Information
202-334-2138; e-mail news@nas.edu

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