Washington, D.C. – The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation has selected 12 individuals as the 2009 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.

“With health reform on the national agenda, this year’s Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars will have a window on an historic debate and an opportunity to gain practical health policy experience,” said Foundation President and CEO Drew Altman.  “This program honors Barbara’s legacy, and she would be proud to see these talented and motivated students accomplishing her goals while achieving theirs.” 

The program is designed to introduce students 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 among more than 200 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.


The 12 Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars for 2009 are:

K Dempsey
Hometown:  Eagle Butte, South Dakota
School:    Haskell Indian Nations University
Major:     Business Administration
Placement: Senator Tom Udall (D-NM)

Andrew Goodwin
Hometown:  Aurora, Colorado
School:    Hastings College
Major:     Business Administration and Communication Studies
Placement: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)

Madeline Martinez
Hometown:  Bronx, NY
School:    Barnard College
Major:     Political Science and Human Rights
Placement: Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY)

Cristen Moore
Hometown:  Indianapolis, IN
School:    Howard University
Major:     Legal Communication
Placement: Senate HELP Committee - Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA)

Adrianna Nava
Hometown:  Bolingbrook, IL
School:    Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing
Major:     Nursing
Placement: Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA)

Juliet Okoroh
Hometown:  Atlanta, GA
School:    University of Georgia
Major:     Biology
Placement: Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)

Linda Ratanaprasatporn
Hometown:  Staten Island, New York
School:    Brown University
Major:     Human Biology
Placement: Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)

Eric Rodriguez
Hometown:  San Antonio, TX
School:    University of Texas at San Antonio
Major:     Business Admin. and Psychology
Placement: House Energy and Commerce Committee - Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX)

Sameer Siddiqi
Hometown:  Pearland, TX
School:    University of Houston
Major:     Biology
Placement: Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)

David Stephens
Hometown:  LaConner, WA
School:    Lewis & Clark College
Major:     Psychology
Placement: Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)

Sharita Thomas
Hometown:  Richmond, VA
School:    Penn State University
Major:     Health Policy and Administration
Placement: Del. Donna Christiansen (D-VI)

Trevonne Walford
Hometown:  Pikesville, MD
School:    Xavier University of Louisiana
Major:     Biology
Placement: Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL)