The Health and Aging Policy Fellows Program aims to create a cadre of leaders who will serve as change agents in health and aging policy to ultimately improve the health care of older adults. The year-long fellowship offers a rich and unique training and enrichment program that is focused on current policy issues, communication skills development, and professional networking opportunities to provide Fellows with the experience and skills necessary to help affect policy.

The Caregiver Policy Track enables Fellows based in and serving Western New York* and Southeastern Michigan** to become effective advocates and help shape and implement family caregiving policies at the state and federal levels that improve the lives of caregivers and those they care for.

* Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming County

** Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, or Wayne County

Applicants choose to participate in either the

1. Residential/Full-Time fellowship track with a full-time placement in Washington, DC, or in the applicant’s state (New York or Michigan); or
2. Non-Residential/Part-Time fellowship track with a part-time placement (20% effort) in Washington, DC, or in the applicant’s state (New York or Michigan).

Application criteria

• Applicants must demonstrate a strong interest in and commitment to caregiving issues within the field of health and aging.
• Applicants must articulate how the program would meet their career goals to further advance caregiving policies at the state or federal level.
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents who plan to work in the U.S. after the fellowship period.
• Applicants must be based in and serving one of the counties in Western New York or Southeastern Michigan listed above.
• Candidates from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.



APPLICATION KEY DATES

• Application Deadline: Tuesday, April 15, 2025
• Notification of finalists to be interviewed: Mid-May
• Interviews and selection of Fellows: Mid-June to Mid-July
• Fellowship begins October 1, 2025

The fellowship is made possible with the commitment and generous support of our funders. Over the years, we have deepened our collaboration with The John A. Hartford Foundation, which partnered with Atlantic Philanthropies to broaden and extend the fellowship program; and with West Health, which has been essential to establishing and expanding our alumni program, as well as establishing the Behavioral Health Track. At the same time, we have been able to further develop our partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)-funded programs at University of Washington and Northwestern University, The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation (for our Caregiver Policy Track), and The Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, among others.