The Congressional Healthcare Policy Fellow Program is a collaborative effort of ACCP, the School of Pharmacy at the Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, and the American Society of Health System-Pharmacists.

The program provides a unique health care policy learning experience designed to demonstrate the value of pharmacy-government interaction and to facilitate practical contributions to the effective use of scientific and pharmaceutical knowledge in government policy development. Fellows spend a month with each of the professional organizations as members of their respective government and professional affairs staff. In November of the fellow year, fellows begin working in a legislative environment requiring health care input as part of the staff of an individual senator or representative or a relevant congressional committee.

The program offers an enriching opportunity for the fellow to develop legislative evaluation and policy development skills, improve research and writing skills, and integrate practical policy experience with theory. The fellow will be expected to undertake a wide array of responsibilities, including researching and preparing briefs on health care issues; assisting with policy decisions; drafting memoranda; and planning, organizing, and carrying out program and management objectives. 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 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) or Finance Committee or the House Ways and Means or Energy and Commerce Committee.

Interested candidates should visit the Pharmacy Healthcare Policy Fellow program’s website for more information and instruction on submitting and applying.