12 Selected as 2010 Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars
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 BaldassarreHometown: San Mateo, CASchool: Rice UniversityMajor: Hispanic Studies and Biochemistry & Cell BiologyPlacement: House Energy and Commerce (Minority Staff)
Ashley CastilloHometown: Mesa, AZSchool: Arizona State UniversityMajor: MicrobiologyPlacement: Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)
Trenell DarbyHometown: Kenosha,WISchool: University of Wisconsin-MadisonMajor: NursingPlacement: Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Alexandra FergusonHometown: Seattle, WASchool: Brown UniversityMajor: Political SciencePlacement: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (Majority Staff)
Yvette GonzalezHometown: Salt Lake City, UTSchool: University of UtahMajor: Social Justice Education & Community Based ResearchPlacement: Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY)
Mariah JonesHometown: Broken Arrow, OKSchool: Howard UniversityMajor: BiologyPlacement: Rep. Donna Christian-Christensen (D-VI)
Elizabeth LamosteHometown: Troy, MISchool: Columbia UniversityMajor: Sociology and Political SciencePlacement: Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
Victoria MaciasHometown: Santa Fe, NMSchool: Colorado State UniversityMajor: Natural Sciences and SpanishPlacement: Sen. Thomas Udall (D-NM)
Elieth MartinezHometown: Los Angeles, CASchool: University of California San DiegoMajor: Human BiologyPlacement: Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)
Ryan O’QuinnHometown: Miami, FLSchool: University of PittsburghMajor: Neuroscience and EconomicsPlacement: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)
Nitrecus SimmonsHometown: Atlanta, GASchool: Bennett College for WomenMajor: BiologyPlacement: Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)
Rebecca SnidermanHometown: Barrington, RISchool: Brandeis UniversityMajor: Sociology and PhilosophyPlacement: Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)
The Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit private operating foundation, based in Menlo Park, California, dedicated to producing and communicating the best possible information, research and analysis on health issues.