Washington, D.C. -- The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation has selected 12 individuals as the 2010 Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars.  The Scholars have an opportunity to learn first-hand about health policy and the policymaking process during a nine-week position as staff to a congressional office.

The Foundation established the Barbara Jordan Scholars Program in memory of former U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Jordan -- the first African American woman elected to Congress from Texas and a deeply respected member of the Foundation’s board of trustees.

"This year’s group of bright young Scholars will have a unique opportunity to delve into health policy during the early implementation of comprehensive national health reform," Foundation President and CEO Drew Altman said. "The experience and insights that they gain will help prepare these students to be future leaders in our country, which is a fitting legacy for Barbara Jordan."  

The program is designed to introduce recent college graduates with an interest in issues affecting racial and ethnic minority and underserved communities to the federal legislative process and current issues in health policy.  In addition to working on Capitol Hill, Scholars participate in seminars and site visits organized by the Foundation to broaden their knowledge of health policy issues.  Under the guidance of the Foundation’s staff, the Scholars also complete an in-depth analysis of a health policy issue and produce a policy memo.

This year’s Scholars were chosen from more than 250 applicants.  Cara James, Ph.D., is the director of the Barbara Jordan Scholars Program at the Foundation.  The program operates in partnership with Howard University.

More information about the Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars Program is available online.

The 12 Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars for 2010 are:

Randall Baldassarre
Hometown: San Mateo, CA
School: Rice University
Major: Hispanic Studies and Biochemistry & Cell Biology
Placement: House Energy and Commerce (Minority Staff)

Ashley Castillo
Hometown: Mesa, AZ
School: Arizona State University
Major: Microbiology
Placement: Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)

Trenell Darby
Hometown: Kenosha,WI
School: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Major: Nursing
Placement: Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)

Alexandra Ferguson
Hometown: Seattle, WA
School: Brown University
Major: Political Science
Placement: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (Majority Staff)

Yvette Gonzalez
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
School: University of Utah
Major: Social Justice Education & Community Based Research
Placement: Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY)

Mariah Jones
Hometown: Broken Arrow, OK
School: Howard University
Major: Biology
Placement: Rep. Donna Christian-Christensen (D-VI)

Elizabeth Lamoste
Hometown: Troy, MI
School: Columbia University
Major: Sociology and Political Science
Placement: Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)

Victoria Macias
Hometown: Santa Fe, NM
School: Colorado State University
Major: Natural Sciences and Spanish
Placement: Sen. Thomas Udall (D-NM)

Elieth Martinez
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
School: University of California San Diego
Major: Human Biology
Placement: Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)

Ryan O’Quinn
Hometown: Miami, FL
School: University of Pittsburgh
Major: Neuroscience and Economics
Placement: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)

Nitrecus Simmons
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
School: Bennett College for Women
Major: Biology
Placement: Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)

Rebecca Sniderman
Hometown: Barrington, RI
School: Brandeis University
Major: Sociology and Philosophy
Placement: Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)