Six Health Professionals Selected for Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellows Program at the National Academy of Medicine

WASHINGTON — The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) today named the 2023-2024 class of RWJF Health Policy Fellows. Beginning in September, six health professionals will spend a year in the nation’s capital working on health-related legislative and regulatory issues with members of Congress and the executive branch.

The fellows were chosen in a national competition for highly accomplished health and behavioral/social science professionals who have an interest in health policy. Their experiences in Washington, D.C., will enrich their understanding of federal policy formation and how federal and state governments relate to the mission of their home institutions and local communities. The fellowship program will commence with an intensive three-month orientation, followed by a nine-month assignment in a congressional office or the executive branch, where the fellows will be involved in health-related legislation and policy development. After their  assignment, the fellows will continue to receive support to sustain their development as health policy leaders.

“The past year has been a reminder of the importance of health, public health, and health care to the well-being of our nation,” said Gregg Margolis, director of the RWJF Health Policy Fellows program at NAM. “Health policy decisions impact every aspect of our lives, including justice, fairness, equity, the environment, and the economy. We are proud to bring exceptional health and health care experts to Washington D.C., to provide a front-line perspective to current policy debates. This cohort will participate in health policy deliberations at the highest levels of government, and they will help craft more informed policy options and use their experience to improve the nation’s health.”

“For 50 years, RWJF Health Policy Fellows have gained hands-on policymaking experience in the halls of Congress and federal agencies that propelled their work as leaders in building a healthier and more equitable future for the nation,” said Alyson K. Northrup, senior policy officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “Fellows bring their expertise in health-related disciplines and a deep commitment to improving health and wellbeing in the United States. We look forward to seeing how the 2023-24 class of fellows leverages their on-the-ground policymaking training to support RWJF’s vision for building a Culture of Health rooted in equity that provides every individual with a fair and just opportunity to thrive.”

The 2023-2024 fellows are:

• Nancy Connolly, MD, MPH, clinical assistant professor of medicine, General Internal Medicine – Harborview Downtown Programs, University of Washington, Seattle.
• Amy Gilbert, JD, MPH, chief science officer, Office of the Secretary, Indiana Family & Social Services Administration, Indianapolis.
• Miriam Laugesen, PhD, associate professor, department of health policy and management, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York.
• Grace Lin, MD, MBA, professor of medicine and vice chair of circulatory failure, department of cardiovascular medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
• Lucy Marcil, MD, MPH, assistant professor of pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston.
• Shambra Mulder, PhD, deputy commissioner, Kentucky Department for Behavior Health, Developmental, and Intellectual Disabilities, Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Frankfort.

The RWJF Health Policy Fellows program is the nation’s most prestigious learning experience at the nexus of health, science, and policy in Washington, D.C.  Since 1973, this nonpartisan fellowship has offered exclusive, hands-on policy experience with the most influential congressional and executive offices in the nation’s capital. Over 300 fellows from across the nation have worked hand in hand with the best and brightest in federal health policy to gain an insider’s perspective of the political process, develop unmatched leadership skills, and build a professional network that lasts a lifetime.  As chancellors and deans at major academic institutions; presidents of professional societies and voluntary health organizations; leaders in local, state and federal government; and experts at think tanks and advocacy groups, fellows transform the nation’s health care policy and practice. For more information, visit www.healthpolicyfellows.org.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is committed to improving health and health equity in the United States. In partnership with others, we are working to develop a Culture of Health rooted in equity that provides every individual with a fair and just opportunity to thrive, no matter who they are, where they live, or how much money they have. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org.