| Do you have a passion for healthcare policy and/or advocacy? The Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, ACCP, and ASHP offer a 14 month Washington, D.C.-based experience designed to prepare pharmacists for public service. The program, now entering its 14th year, is described in detail at https://healthpolicy.pharmacy.vcu.edu/ The Fellow will gain experience in issue prioritization, policy analysis, legislative evaluation and policy development, effective writing, and advocacy program development and implementation skills. After foundational experiences in conjunction with the sponsoring organizations during July and August, the fellow spends the next 12 months working within an individual Congressional Senator’s or Representative’s personal office or as a member of a Congressional committee staff. A such, the program emphasizes policy-oriented learning through participation, rather than observation. The Fellow utilizes their scientific, therapeutic and pharmaceutical knowledge as well as patient care experience to bring external perspectives to the policy process. What does the program prepare pharmacists to do? This program prepares pharmacists for a career as a congressional staff member, policy development staff or congressional liaison for a federal agency, government affairs staff for a professional society or pharmaceutical company, or a career focused on healthcare policy, research or education. Check out where the program has taken our alumni fellows at: https://healthpolicy.pharmacy.vcu.edu/alumni-fellows/ | 
