15 Selected As 2012 Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars
NEWS RELEASEMay 24, 2012
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation has elected 15 individuals as the 2012 Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars. These Scholars will have the opportunity to learn first-hand about health policy and the policymaking process during 11 weeks in Washington, DC, working in Congressional offices, participating in seminars and site visits organized by the Foundation, and completing a health policy analysis project.
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 member of the Foundation’s board of trustees when the modern day Kaiser Family Foundation was established in the early 1990s.
“The Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars Program helps today’s promising students become tomorrow’s health policy leaders,” said Foundation President and CEO Drew Altman. “This program honors Barbara’s legacy by providing real-world opportunities in public service for these outstanding Scholars.”
The program introduces rising college seniors and recent graduates with an interest in issues affecting racial and ethnic minorities and underserved communities to the federal legislative process and current issues in health policy. In addition to working on Capitol Hill, Scholars will have the opportunity to participate in seminars and site visits organized by the Foundation to broaden their knowledge of health care issues. Under the guidance of the Foundation’s staff, the Scholars will also write and present a policy memo that provides an in-depth analysis of a health care issue.
This year’s Scholars were chosen from about 200 applicants. The program operates in partnership with Howard University, which provides administrative support and houses the scholars in D.C.
More information about the Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars Program is available online.
The 15 Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars for 2012 are:
Mr. Robiel AbrahaHometown: Houston, TexasSchool: University of Texas, AustinMajor: SociologyPlacement: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee
Ms. Maria AbricaHometown:Watsonville, CaliforniaSchool: University of California, LAMajor: SociologyPlacement: Rep. Karen Bass
Ms. Huda AdemHometown: Tracy, CaliforniaSchool: University of California, BerkeleyMajor:Int’l Health & DevelopmentPlacement: Rep. John Lewis
Ms. Brittany BrathwaiteHometown:Brooklyn, New YorkSchool: Syracuse UniversityMajor:Women and Gender StudiesPlacement: Rep. Edolphus Towns
Ms. Jessica BroadusHometown: Marietta, GeorgiaSchool: U. North Carolina, Chapel HillMajor: Health Policy ManagementPlacement: Sen. Olympia Snowe
Ms. Lovelee BrownHometown:Roseville, CaliforniaSchool: Stanford UniversityMajor:AnthropologyPlacement: Rep. Barbara Lee
Mr. James CalderwoodHometown:Chevy Chase, MarylandSchool: University of PennsylvaniaMajor:Nursing and Health Care MgmtPlacement: Sen. Tom Udall
Mr. Brandon IbarraHometown:Blackfoot, IdahoSchool: Seattle UniversityMajor:NursingPlacement: Rep. Joe Baca
Ms. Noereem MenaHometown:Providence, Rhode IslandSchool: University of Rhode IslandMajor:Nutrition and DieteticsPlacement: Rep. Joseph Crowley
Ms. Natasha MurphyHometown:Harlem, New YorkSchool: Howard UniversityMajor:Health Management SciencesPlacement: Rep. Charles Rangel
Mr. Bryan RodriguezHometown:Dorchester, MassachusettsSchool: Tufts UniversityMajor:International RelationsPlacement: Senate HELP Committee(Sen. Harkin)
Mr. Edward SmithHometown:Hampton, VirginiaSchool: University of VirginiaMajor:Government and Foreign AffairsPlacement: Rep. Bobby Scott
Ms. Whitney TuckerHometown:Elgin, South CarolinaSchool: Vanderbilt UniversityMajor:Public Policy StudiesPlacement: Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr.
Ms. Mai VangHometown:Brooklyn Park, MinnesotaSchool: Minnesota State University, MankatoMajor:Community Health SciencePlacement: Rep. Keith Ellison
Mr. Trenton WhiteHometown:Hahira, GeorgiaSchool: Mercer UniversityMajor:Int’l Health and DevelopmentPlacement: Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton
The Kaiser Family Foundation, a leader in health policy analysis, health journalism and communication, is dedicated to filling the need for trusted, independent information on the major health issues facing our nation and its people. The Foundation is a non-profit private operating foundation, based in Menlo Park, California.
Publish Date: 2012-05-24