ACCP and its partners celebrated the 20th anniversary of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy-American Society of Health-System Pharmacists-Virginia Commonwealth University Congressional Healthcare Policy Fellow Program. This unique program provides a yearlong placement for a clinical pharmacist to serve in a staff position in a congressional office on Capitol Hill.

For 2 decades, the Congressional Healthcare Policy Fellow Program in Washington, DC, has offered a unique opportunity for a pharmacist to serve as a staff member in the US Congress, with orientation managed by ACCP and ASHP government affairs offices.

Past fellows, program preceptors, and ACCP staff joined together for a celebration dinner in Alexandria, Virginia, to honor the most recent fellow, Laurel Uhomba, Pharm.D., MPH, MBA, and celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Fellow Program.

Uhomba is currently finishing her service as the ACCP-ASHP-VCU Congressional Health Policy Fellow, working for the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

According to Uhomba:

No 2 days are exactly the same on Capitol Hill. My work includes meeting with a wide range of stakeholders, contributing to ongoing policy projects, and supporting preparation for hearings. I also assist with drafting memos and background materials to help inform members and staff on key health issues under the committee’s jurisdiction.

I absolutely love living in DC, which I affectionately call my Dream City. There is so much to do and such a diverse mix of people to connect with. One of my favorite parts of living here is how accessible everything feels. There are countless free events, museums, festivals, and networking opportunities, and most places are walkable or easily reached by public transit. It is energizing to live in a city where so many people are passionate about their work across so many different sectors.

It is essential for the future of pharmacy to have individuals who not only understand the processes of analyzing and making good, sound policies, but who are also 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.

Past Fellows include:

• Mikayla Harris, Pharm.D., who currently serves as a Legislative Assistant in the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs in the US Senate
• Nimit Jindal, Pharm.D., who currently serves as Senior Health Policy Advisor, US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
• Nilofar (“Nellie”) Jafari, Pharm.D., MPH, who currently serves as the VA National Pharmacist Executive for the US Department of Veterans Affairs

For a full list of Past Fellows, click here.

We are still accepting applications for 2027-2028 Pharmacy Healthcare Policy Fellow Program!

Interested candidates should visit the pharmacy Congressional Healthcare Policy Fellow program website for more information and instructions on submitting an application. For more information, click here.