Academy Named National Program Office for Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholars Program

NEW YORK CITY, September 11-The New York Academy of Medicine began an exciting new role on Sept. 1 as the National Program Office for the renowned Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholars, a program that aims to cultivate the next generation of leaders in the important multidisciplinary field of population health.

The National Program Office is being co-directed by Academy President Jo Ivey Boufford, MD, and Academy Senior Vice President for Research David Vlahov, PhD, RN. The Academy will steer the process of selecting up to 18 promising post-doctoral scholars each year to engage in an intensive two-year program at one of six nationally prominent educational institutions. The Academy will work with these universities to manage and administer the program, organize and host annual meetings of current Health & Society Scholars, develop and maintain an alumni network, and provide cross-cutting educational opportunities for all scholars.

Health & Society Scholars receive training in the emerging field of population health, which uses a multidisciplinary approach to understand and more effectively address the wide-ranging factors like biology, education, economic development, natural and built environment, and racial and gender disparities, among others, that affect the health of individuals and communities. Applications for the next cohort of RWJF Health & Society Scholars will be accepted through October 12, 2007.

“The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is supporting programs on the cutting edge of public health policy, so to have this National Program Office come to the Academy is a real honor for us,” Boufford said. “It is also an exciting opportunity for the Academy to link its own research and applied programs on the health of people living in cities to this important academic network preparing the next generation of leaders in population health.”

“Health & Society Scholars get to work at great universities with outstanding faculty and to interact not only with their mentors, but with other distinguished professionals who encourage interdisciplinary health research,” said Vlahov, who is also Director of the Academy’s Center for Epidemiologic Studies.

Chaired by Institute of Medicine President Harvey Fineberg, MD, PhD, a National Advisory Committee of leaders from academia, public policy, and government agencies will review the applications and this winter will select the 2008 cohort of Health & Society Scholars, who will begin their two-year appointments next fall. Up to three scholars will be chosen for each of the following six sites: Columbia University, Harvard University, University of California (San Francisco and Berkeley), University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Wisconsin. Scholars entering in fall 2008 would receive a stipend of $83,000 in their first year and $86,000 in their second year. For more information on the program please visit www.healthandsocietyscholars.org. “Health & Society Scholars provides outstanding postdoctoral scholars with the opportunity to stretch beyond their previous disciplinary paradigms and investigate interconnections between the concepts and methods of other disciplines, resulting in innovative and integrative analyses and solutions to the health challenges we face in the 21st century,” said Pamela G. Russo, MD, MPH, senior program officer for the Health & Society Scholars at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “We’re extremely fortunate to be able to locate this important program in the dynamic and supportive environment that The New York Academy of Medicine can provide.”

ABOUT THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF MEDICINE Founded in 1847, The New York Academy of Medicine is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit institution whose mission is to enhance the health of the public. Our research, education, community engagement, and evidence-based advocacy seek to improve the health of people living in cities, especially disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. The impact of these initiatives reaches into neighborhoods in New York City, across the country, and around the world. We work with community based organizations, academic institutions, corporations, the media, and government to catalyze and contribute to changes that promote health. Visit us online at www.nyam.org.

ABOUT THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For more than 35 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org

Posted on September 11, 2007

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Andrew J. Martin
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