John K. McGlew
Director of Government Affairs

Among the most successful initiatives led by ACCP's Washington office is the Congressional Healthcare Policy Fellow Program - a collaborative effort of ACCP, the School of Pharmacy at the Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).

Now in its 12th year, 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 the first 2 months of the program with each of the two professional societies as members of their respective government and professional affairs staff. Then in September of the fellow year, Fellows begin working in a legislative environment requiring health care input on the staff of an individual senator or representative or a relevant congressional committee.

The 2017-2018 Congressional Healthcare Policy Fellow, Nilofar "Nellie" Jafari, joined ACCP's Washington office in July 2017 after spending a week at the Brookings Institution. Jafari completed a 2-year postgraduate residency in health-system pharmacy administration at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh and a graduate certificate in health systems leadership and management. She holds a multidisciplinary master of public health degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a Pharm.D. degree from VCU. Her interest and involvement in health care and public service, however, had their roots in her undergraduate years at the University of Virginia, where she earned a bachelor's degree in psychology.

The following is taken from a conversation with Dr. Jafari about her experience on Capitol Hill:

How did you originally hear about the fellow program, and what prompted your interest and motivated you to apply?

I went to Virginia Commonwealth University for pharmacy school, so I had heard briefly about the fellow program from Dr. (Gary) Matzke and thought it was a unique opportunity for pharmacists to get involved with policy. The health-system pharmacy administration residency I had completed was combined with a master's degree in public health (MPH), so the health policy classes I had to take really enticed me to want a better understanding of how the legislative process worked. The MPH component of my residency is what motivated me to apply for the fellowship and want to contribute to health policy on the federal level.

How is your time typically spent day-to-day on the Hill?

Usually, I have at least one constituent meeting every day. During fly-in season, there are usually several meetings in one day. Most of my time is spent drafting memos for the senator's (Senator Chris Murphy, [D-Conn]) Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee hearings; co-sponsoring bill requests; and attending meetings. I also have to attend briefings and stay up to date on any health policy reports. Occasionally, I am asked to draft legislation with the legislative council and work with stakeholders to ensure the bill's language is consistent with our intent. Our health legislative correspondent left the office a few months ago, so I am now in charge of the health correspondence for constituents.

What issues are priorities for your office at the moment?

There is an opioid package coming together soon within the HELP committee, so our major priority is getting the opioid bills we have worked on into the package. We also are in the middle of drafting our appropriations letter to the committee. Mental health and gun safety are always a priority for the office.

Are there aspects of life and work on Capitol Hill that were completely unexpected, in terms of work process, office interactions, etc.?

Every office is so unique and has its own personality, so I did not know what to expect. In general, people are very protective of their work on the Hill. It takes a great deal of trust-building to be incorporated in the legislative work. It took me a few months to fully be utilized by the office. This is completely different from my experience in pharmacy, where I felt I was incorporated in the workflow from day 1.

What are your plans after you complete your fellow year?

I am searching for potential jobs currently. Ideally, I would like a position that is a blend of policy and pharmacy/public health.

Do you have any additional thoughts or advice for potential candidates?

This is a great experience to learn how policy moves forward and the inner workings of a congressional office. The best advice I have is to try to find an office that will utilize you to your fullest potential. It may take a few months for the office to build that relationship and trust with you, but once they do, you will be immersed in the legislative process and can make an impact on policies. Also, take the time to learn about topics you would not typically have the opportunity to learn about. For example, currently in the office, I work on children's and women's health issues. Prior to the fellow program, I had limited knowledge in this realm.

Applications for the 2019-2020 Pharmacy Healthcare Policy Fellow Program

Interested candidates should visit the Pharmacy Healthcare Policy Fellow Program's website for more information and instructions on submitting an application.

For more information about any of ACCP's advocacy efforts, please contact John McGlew, Director of Government Affairs, at [email protected] or (202) 621-1820.