Dr. Candice Morrissey Wraps Up Intensive 3.5 Month Health Policy Orientation as RWJF Fellow
Dr. Candice Morrissey is now several months into her year as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Health Policy Fellow, a highly selective, nonpartisan program administered by the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) that prepares mid-career health professionals to engage directly in federal health policy.
Since beginning the fellowship in September, Dr. Morrissey has been immersed in an intensive three-and-a-half-month orientation in Washington, DC. During this period, fellows participate in approximately 250 policy briefings, meeting with national leaders across Congress, the executive branch, think tanks, and health policy organizations. The curriculum is designed to provide a deep understanding of how health policy is developed, debated, and implemented at the federal level.
“This has been an extraordinary and deeply rewarding experience so far,” Dr. Morrissey shared. “The opportunity to learn directly from leaders shaping health policy—and to do so alongside an incredible cohort—has been both humbling and energizing.”
Following orientation, Dr. Morrissey will transition into a congressional placement, where she will serve as a health policy developer and analyst. In this role, she will function as a full member of a legislative health team, contributing to activities such as drafting legislation, preparing policy memos, organizing briefings and hearings, and advising lawmakers on complex health issues.
The RWJF Health Policy Fellows program has trained more than 300 leaders since 1973, equipping physicians, nurses, public health professionals, and other experts to apply their disciplinary knowledge to national policy challenges. Fellows join a nationwide alumni network and often continue to influence health policy long after completing the program.
Dr. Morrissey’s participation reflects both her individual leadership and the department’s broader commitment to advancing health beyond the clinical setting—through policy, education, and systems-level impact. We look forward to following her continued work as she brings clinical insight to the national health policy arena.