The American Public Health Association is now accepting applications for the 2017 APHA Public Health Fellowship in Government. This is the ninth year APHA is offering this fellowship, which has been described as an “amazing,” “phenomenal” and “life altering” experience by previous fellows.

Candidates must have strong public health credentials and be able to spend one year in Washington, D.C. The fellow will have the option of working in the House or Senate on legislative and policy issues such as creating healthy communities, improving health equity, addressing environmental health concerns, population health or the social determinants of health.

Training for the fellowship will begin in January 2017 so you must be able to move to the Washington, D.C., area in January. The fellowship provides a unique learning experience and demonstrates the value and need for basing policy on sound science. Throughout the year, the fellow will gain a practical knowledge of government and how the public policy process works.

All candidates must:

• be an APHA member.
• have a graduate degree in public health or a related discipline.
• have at least five years’ experience as a public health professional beyond graduate or medical training.
• be a citizen of the U.S. or its territories or have permanent residence status in the U.S.

Applications, additional information and brief articles from the previous fellows are available on APHA’s website. The application, including a CV and three letters of recommendation, is due to APHA by August 15, 2016.