Program Overview
The VCU Congressional Healthcare Policy Fellow Program emphasizes policy-oriented learning through participation, rather than observation, and provides a yearlong congressional experience for pharmacists. The program is an enriching opportunity for each fellow to develop legislative evaluation and policy development skills, improve research and writing skills, and integrate practical policy experience with theory.
During the 14-month program, fellows bring their external perspectives to the policy process. The fellow’s responsibilities in a Congressional office have typically included researching and writing briefs on health care issues, assisting with policy analyses and drafting memoranda, floor speeches and questions for panelists at Congressional hearings, as well as planning, organizing and contributing to the Senator or Representative’s office policy and management issues for the year.
Program Schedule
Fellows enter our 14-month program in July and complete the program at the end of August of the following year.
One Week (July)
The fellow undergoes the “Inside Congress” orientation program conducted by the Brookings Institution in early July.
Six Weeks (July-August)
The fellow works with ASHP's government affairs team (3 weeks) and with ACCP policy staff (3 weeks).
The two associations and VCU provide guidance and work with the fellow to identify an office of an individual representative or legislative committee to work with in Congress.
12 months (Starting in August)
The fellow spends the remaining 12 months working as a health policy fellow in the office of that senator or representative or on committee staff. The congressional office (personal or committee) placement should ideally be with one of the committees that predominantly deal with health issues such as the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; the Senate Finance Committee; the Senate Budget Committee; the House Ways and Means Committee; or the Energy and Commerce Committee.
During these 12 months, the fellow will:
- Participate in ASHP’s policy week activities in mid-September and ACCP’s annual meeting during October
- Actively engage with the VCU program director during quarterly meetings and by providing two seminars on campus during the program
Benefits and Compensation
The fellow will be designated an adjunct assistant professor of the VCU School of Pharmacy and will receive a stipend of $70,000. An allowance for moving expenses of up to $1,000 and a professional education or travel allowance for use during the fellow year of $1,500 will also be provided. Health care insurance, life insurance, retirement or leave benefits are not provided with this appointment. Vacation will be available according to the congressional calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
The VCU Congressional Healthcare Policy Fellow Program will prepare the individual for a career as:
- a congressional staff member,
- an agency policy development staff member or congressional liaison,
- a government affairs staff member for a professional society or pharmaceutical company,
- a health care policy or health system researcher, or
- an educator in academia
It is important for the future of pharmacy to have individuals who not only understand the processes of analyzing and making good, sound policies, but also are willing to engage in the process.
Policy happens everywhere — at local institutions and in local, state and federal legislative and regulatory environments. It is important for pharmacists to increase their involvement in legislative or regulatory policy and to have better representation in Congress and federal agencies.
The term "fellowship" is used to describe programs that focus on professional development and are often sponsored by organizations within the field. This program provides its fellows the opportunity to examine health care issues from a professional association and congressional perspective — not to perform "traditional" research.
In contrast to other congressional fellowship programs, this Congressional Healthcare Policy Fellow Program:
- is designed for pharmacists who come from outside of government to bring external perspectives to the policy process
- is structured to emphasize policy-oriented learning through participation, rather than observation
- designates its fellow as a free agent, not a representative of the participating organizations, while they serve in Congress
- provides this yearlong experience to M.S.-, Pharm.D.- or Ph.D.-prepared pharmacists
Communication skills are a major focus of this program. Succinct written communication is vital for writing policy. Communication within the policy arena is a challenge for many people; an efficient and effective policy brief must arrive at the main point in a single page. This maturation occurs quickly while fellows are working in their congressional office.
Within this office, the fellow is often working and communicating with professionals outside health care.
Finally, as the fellow is considered a free agent, this program works to develop and encourage autonomy.
The fellows have gone on to a wide variety of experiences. Many have held positions in government agencies, such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Food and Drug Administration. They have also gone on to roles in academia, think tanks, consulting firms and policy positions at state associations and agencies. Learn more about our alumni fellows.
Fellows work as staff in congressional offices during this experience. Projects may include a variety of legislative activities and writing projects focusing on legislative issues pertinent to that office. Fellows learn to evaluate and analyze policies, write briefs on health care issues, respond to government regulating agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration or the Department of Health and Human Services, and contribute to the drafting of legislation for the office or committee they are working for during the year in Congress.
Past fellows have been asked asked to arrange and prepare for hearings. Responsibilities for this included the identification of issue experts and the development of questions for senators or representatives to ask of these experts.
All applicants must be U.S. citizens and, at the time of appointment, not employed by the federal government.