Health-and-Aging-Policy_300“The Health and Aging Policy Fellowship gave me access to national health policy leaders that I continue to work with to make a greater impact in promoting the health of vulnerable older adults.”

This is what Adriana Perez, one of the 2012 Health and Aging Policy Fellows (HAPF), recently told me regarding her Fellowship at the Centers for Disease Control.

Adriana, an alumna of our Hartford geriatric nursing post-doc fellowship, told me that among the numerous benefits she derived from the program, “I also had the opportunity to build my own interprofessional network with diverse fellows at all stages of career trajectories—who are all passionate about gerontological health.”

I asked Adriana not only because applications for the 2014-15 class of Fellows are due April 16, 2014, but because I sincerely wanted to understand why folks would Interrupt their Regularly Scheduled Careers to gain a new set of skills in the policy arena. Fellows are selected through a national competition based on their demonstrated commitment to health and aging issues, leadership potential, and interest in affecting policy.

The Atlantic Philanthropies’ funded Health and Aging Policy Fellowship program offers two different tracks:

  • a residential model that requires a year-long placement in Washington, DC; and
  • a non-residential model that requires a health policy project and brief placement(s) throughout the year at relevant sites.

Fellows in both tracks participate in required core program components, including: mentorship from several sources; development of an individualized learning objectives plan; overall policy/health policy orientations; an aging policy orientation; workshops on communications/media/social networking/policy writing/advocacy training (co-sponsored by the John A. Hartford Foundation); team policy projects; a spring symposium on health and aging policy; and an annual leadership retreat.

All told, 45 Fellows representing many health professions and disciplines have completed the program, with 32 of the 56 current and alumni Health and Aging Policy Fellows (57 percent of the total) having had a previous relationship with Hartford programs. We have bragged about these folks before.

The program has had remarkable success in the first six years in terms of the quality of Fellows selected, the placements and activities of the Fellows, the national recognition of the program in policy, advocacy and aging fields, and the continued contributions of alumni of the program.

Fellows have included senior professors from leading universities and two MacArthur “Genius” Fellows, as well as outstanding individuals from multiple disciplines who are quite early in their careers. Moreover, the Fellows have had exceptional experiences, including placements in the U.S. Senate during health care reform and leadership roles in implementing key features of the Affordable Care Act, with substantial policy impact both during and after the Fellowship experience itself. The program has established strong linkages with federal and state agencies, congressional offices, consumer advocacy organizations and other Atlantic and Hartford grantees.

HAPF alumni have been involved in health policy at national and local levels, for example, shifting roles to take on substantial responsibilities in health care organizations and policy settings, becoming advisers on major policy issues, taking on policy and advocacy roles in professional organizations, etc.

“There are many benefits of becoming an Atlantic Philanthropies Health and Aging Policy Fellow, but two stand out for me,” says HAPF alumna Dr. Meg Wallhagen. “One was the opportunity to gain a more comprehensive understanding of legislative and policymaking processes and of the critical importance of being aware of the views of all stakeholders when considering policy change. The other is how it opens the door to a vast network of contacts and provides opportunities to build relationships that continue well beyond the Fellowship experience itself.”

Over the longer term, it is expected that this cadre of policy leaders will own the information, experience, and skills needed to positively impact future health and aging policymaking. The capacity of these Fellows to participate in broader policy change efforts through their involvement in policy decision-making, advocacy, or policy-related research will ultimately improve the health and well-being of older adults.

If you are interested in policy and issues that affect older Americans, please consider this opportunity. We have a special partnership between the National Hartford Centers of Gerontological Nursing Excellence and the Health and Aging Policy Fellows for a registered nurse interested in embarking on a non-residential Health and Aging Policy Fellowship track.

Again, the deadline is April 16. Your taxes should be done, and if you’ve ever thought about helping to shape the policies our tax dollars support regarding the health of older Americans, you should think about submitting your application to become a Health and Aging Policy Fellow.