On January 30, the ninth cohort of CHRT Health Policy Fellows will begin a four-month curriculum designed to build bridges between Michigan’s health researchers and policymakers. The curriculum includes the history of health care in America, Affordable Care Act implementation and impact in Michigan, value-based insurance design, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services priorities, collaborative quality initiatives, health care costs, and more. Many of the sessions are led by outside experts, including senior administrators at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and nationally regarded experts in health policy.
Fellows meet in Ann Arbor for seven, day-long seminars on public health policy and current issues affecting health policy and practice in Michigan and across the nation; take experiential learning trips to Detroit, Lansing, and Washington, DC, to see health policy and practice in action; and hear from health communicators and legislators about effective advocacy strategies. The CHRT Health Policy Fellows also work collaboratively on projects designed to translate new research findings for use by policymakers and practitioners.
This year, for the first time, the fellowship class will include leaders from the non-profit sector. The inclusion of policy fellows with non-profit experience is designed to further expand the perspective of the class and reflect the growing importance and increased interest of the non-profit sector in health care policy.
“The CHRT Health Policy fellowship creates a unique, multi-disciplinary environment that promotes deep learning and innovative thinking across the health care, public policy and non-profit sectors,” said Marianne Udow-Phillips, CHRT Director. “The enhanced training and connections created through the Fellowship strengthen the ability of leaders in all three sectors to have a positive impact on the health of people and communities.”
The 2020 CHRT Health Policy Fellows are: