The fellowship is comprised of two distinct experiences: an immersive orientation period and a hands-on placement working as a senior advisor to an elected or appointed federal government official.
Starting with an intensive three-and-a-half-month orientation, fellows have the opportunity to meet with national leaders well-versed in health and health care policy, think tanks and interest groups, key executive branch officials, and members of Congress and their staffs.
This concentrated orientation is designed to prepare the fellows for immediate success in the second phase: their placements in the federal legislative or executive branch.
Eligibility
- Exceptional mid-career professionals from academic institutions, not-for-profit organizations, or government (including military; U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs; U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps; and state offices who are not considered government officials under Section 4946 of the Internal Revenue Code);*
- Applicants must have earned an advanced degree (masters or doctoral degree);
- In addition, applicants must have deep experience and subject matter expertise in a health-related discipline. Examples include but are not limited to medicine; nursing; public health; law; dentistry; economics and other social sciences (especially disciplines related to factors that influence population health, such as housing, transportation, nutrition, wealth, employment, education, and environmental and community conditions); health services and social work/behavioral health; and other health professions;
- Applicants whose official job description or responsibilities are primarily government relations or advocacy are not eligible;
- Individual candidates for receipt of award funds must be U.S. citizens, or permanent residents at the time of application. Because the RWJF Health Policy Fellows are placed in assignments in the federal government, changes in federal policy or law may necessitate that RWJF consider adjustments in eligibility and grant terms, as well as placements in the program.
- Additionally, individual candidates for receipt of award funds cannot be related by blood or marriage to any Officer or Trustee of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, or be a descendant of its founder, Robert Wood Johnson.**
*Federal, state, tribal, and local government employees are eligible to apply unless they are considered government officials under Section 4946 of the Internal Revenue Code. The following text should appear in a footnote in the CFP: “For these purposes, a government official is defined as any person who holds one of the following:
**The Officers are the Chair of the Board of Trustees; President and CEO; Chief of Staff; Chief Operating Officer; Executive Vice President; General Counsel; Secretary; Assistant Secretary; Treasurer; and Chief Investment Officer of the Foundation
