GW SMHS announces two-year Neurology Health Policy Research Fellowship

The George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), in partnership with the GW School of Public Health and Health Services (SPHHS), is pleased to announce a two-year Neurology Health Policy Research Fellowship, sponsored primarily by the American Academy of Neurology in collaboration with the American Neurological Association and the Child Neurology Society.

The fellowship program, launching in fall 2014, will prepare neurologists for an academic career in health policy research. Henry J. Kaminski, M.D., chair of the department of neurology at GW SMHS, developed this program with Paula M. Lantz, Ph.D., chair of the department of health policy at GW SPHHS.

"This is an exciting new opportunity for GW, because it takes advantage of our location in the nation's capital and the proximity to important policy makers whose decisions affect patients and physicians across the nation," said Kaminski. "There is a need for more clinicians to be on the front lines of the policy making process, and this unique fellowship can help make this happen."

"The neurologists participating in this fellowship will receive public health policy and health services research training, along with hands-on experience in the policy-making process and in translating research to policymakers and advocacy organizations," said Lantz. "The department of health policy is proud to be part of this important fellowship, which will improve the evidence base for policy action related to the prevention and treatment of neurological disorders."

The selected fellows, who must have completed neurology residency training prior to the fellowship, will earn a master's degree in health policy at GW SPHHS while continuing to see patients within The GW Medical Faculty Associates department of neurology. Graduates will be prepared to enter an academic career that includes policy scholarship. Course work will include biostatistics, epidemiology, health policy analysis, health economics, and health services research design. At the same time, the fellows will gain experience working in congressional, federal, or executive offices.