2011 Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars Program

The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation is accepting applications for the 2011 Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars Program. This intensive summer program provides college students with an opportunity to work on policy issues in a congressional office and to engage in original health policy research and analysis under the guidance of Foundation research staff.


College seniors and recent college graduates who have a strong interest in addressing racial and ethnic health disparities or who are themselves a member of a population that is adversely affected by racial and ethnic health disparities are eligible to apply. Eligible candidates must be U.S. citizens who will be seniors or recent graduates of an accredited U.S. college or university by the fall of 2011. Individuals with a graduate degree and those individuals currently enrolled in a graduate degree program are not eligible to participate. The application deadline is 5 p.m. ET on Friday, December 3, 2010. Application materials and more information are available online.

Selected Scholars will work in congressional offices in Washington, D.C. for 10 weeks and will participate in weekly seminars and site visits designed to increase their understanding of the intersection between policy and the legislative process. Scholars are expected to write and present a health policy research paper in one of the following research areas: health reform and the uninsured, Medicaid, Medicare or HIV/AIDS. Housing is provided through Howard University, the Foundation’s partner in operating the program.

The Kaiser Family Foundation established the Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars Program to honor the legacy of Barbara Jordan – the first African American elected to Congress from Texas and a well-respected former member of the Foundation’s board of trustees. Barbara Jordan had a distinguished career exemplified by her tireless advocacy on behalf of vulnerable populations. She brought this passion to her work, inspiring other to become involved in addressing challenging health policy issues.

For questions, please contact Cara James, program director at the Kaiser Family Foundation at (202) 347-5270 or contact Jomo Kassaye, program manager at Howard University at (202) 238-2385.

The Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit private operating foundation, based in Menlo Park, California, dedicated to producing and communicating the best possible information and analysis on health issues.