2009-2010 Congressional Healthcare Policy Fellow Program

The Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy in collaboration with the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists established the country’s first Pharmacy Healthcare Policy Fellow program in 2006. Beginning with the 2007-2008 offering the program has focused on legislative policy analysis and development.

Under the leadership of Gary R. Matzke, Pharm.D., of the MCV/VCU School of Pharmacy, Ed Webb, PharmD., M.P.H. of ACCP and Brian Meyer of ASHP, the program was developed to provide active learning in multiple policy environments. The initial week of the program consists of an orientation program put on by faculty of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy and the Brookings Institute. Following the orientation the fellow spends two months with the government affairs staff of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and the Government affairs division of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Fellows then spend the remainder of the year working as special assistants / fellows on the staff of a Congressional committee or the personal staff of a U.S. Senator or Representative.

The Program provides a unique healthcare policy learning experience that allows the Fellow to make practical contributions to the effective use of scientific and pharmaceutical knowledge in association and government decision making. The Fellow will be actively mentored during their development of legislative evaluation and policy development, and research and writing skills as they integrate practical policy experience with theory. The Fellow will be expected to undertake a wide array of responsibilities in the Congressional office they serve including researching and writing briefs on healthcare issues, assisting with policy decisions, drafting memoranda, planning, organizing and contributing to the management objectives of the office.

The application period is now open, and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Guidelines for submission of applications are available at http://www.pharmacy.vcu.edu/sub/prog/guidelines.aspx. Finalists will be interviewed in Washington, DC, in spring 2009, and the successful candidate will be announced shortly thereafter.