INFO: CDC/Health and Aging Policy Fellows

Thought this may be of interest to some on the listserve.

Greg Hinrichsen

Dear Colleague, I am pleased to announce the Health and Aging Policy Fellows Program's partnership with the Healthy Aging Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  For the 2010-2011 fellowship year, the CDC is sponsoring a non-residential Health and Aging Policy Fellow. Supported by The Atlantic Philanthropies, the Health and Aging Policy Fellows Program represents a collaboration between our staff at the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene at Columbia Psychiatry and the American Political Science Association Congressional Fellowship Program. This national program seeks to provide professionals in health and aging with the experience and skills necessary to make a positive contribution to the development and implementation of health policies that affect older Americans. The program offers two different tracks: (1) a residential track that includes a nine-to-12-month placement in Washington, DC or at a state agency (as a legislative assistant in Congress, a professional staff member in an executive agency or in a policy organization); and (2) a non-residential track that includes a health policy project and brief placement(s) throughout the year at relevant sites. Core program components focused on career development and professional enrichment are provided for fellows in both tracks. The mission of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is to promote health; prevent disease, injury and disability; and prepare for new health threats. Given the dramatic aging of our nation's population, CDC's Healthy Aging Program is a cross-cutting program focused on improving the health and quality of life of older adults.  The Program, under the direction of Lynda A. Anderson, PhD, is located within the Office of the Director of the Division of Adult and Community Health in the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. A Health and Aging Policy Fellow consulting with CDC will have the opportunity to meet with CDC Healthy Aging Program staff and key partners in Atlanta, Georgia, approximately three times during the year-long fellowship.  In support of their work and depending on needs and interests, the Fellow may also have the opportunity to meet with key partner(s) in locations other than Atlanta, e.g., Washington DC. Specific project activities will be determined in consultation with a prospective Fellow, depending on his or her interests, experience, and expertise. Increasing the Use of Clinical Preventive Services – There exists a considerable gap between those for whom potentially lifesaving preventive services (e.g., immunizations, chronic disease screenings) are recommended and those who actually receive them. A Fellow concentrating in this area will have the opportunity to build on the momentum of CDC's recently released report "Promoting Preventive Services for Adults 50-64:  Community and Clinical Partnerships" (www.cdc.gov/aging).  Enhancing Mobility for Older Adults – A growing body of research points to the influence of policy, systems and environmental influences on the health and well being older adults. Issues related to ensuring mobility (e.g., walking, safe driving) for older adults are gaining increased attention as key factors in keeping older people independent and socially engaged. A Fellow concentrating in this area will also consult with academic partners in the Healthy Aging Research Network (www.prc-han.org/). Promoting Mental Health Among Older Adults – CDC and the Healthy Aging Program are increasingly focusing on mental health as a critical component of overall health.  Promoting positive mental health, screening and treatment for depression, and preventing and slowing cognitive impairment are among the issues on which a Fellow working in this area will focus.  The application deadline for the 2010-2011 fellowship year is April 15, 2010. For further information, please visit our website at www.healthandagingpolicy.org or contact me or Phuong Huynh, Deputy Director of the program (huynhpt@pi.cpmc.columbia.edu or 212-543-6213) directly. Best regards, Harold Alan Pincus MD National Director, Health and Aging Policy Fellows Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Director of Quality and Outcomes Research, New York-Presbyterian Hospital Senior Scientist, RAND Corporation 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 09 New York, NY 10032 Phone: 212 543 5401 Fax: 212 543 6063 Email: pincush@pi.cpmc.columbia.edu