Rosenfeld Fellowship with amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research

amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is pleased to announce the establishment of the Allan Rosenfield, M.D., HIV/AIDS Public Policy Internship and Fellowship program. This training program has been established for exceptional college undergraduates and graduate students who aspire to become leaders in public health and in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. 

The Allan Rosenfield Internships and Fellowships have been established in honor and in memory of the distinguished public health leader Allan Rosenfield, M.D., dean of Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health for 22 years, chair of amfAR’s program board, and a longtime member of the Foundation’s board of trustees. As a pioneering physician, academic leader, and educator, Dr. Rosenfield demonstrated extraordinary commitment to the world’s most vulnerable populations and was a champion of their rights and well-being for more than four decades. His career combined expertise in obstetrics and gynecology, family planning, public health, and HIV/AIDS with ardent advocacy of women’s health and human rights. As a member of amfAR’s board from 1997 to 2008, Dr. Rosenfield regularly provided Congressional testimony on behalf of amfAR in support of AIDS research and prevention initiatives including syringe exchange programs. His research focused on reducing maternal mortality in the developing world as well as decreasing the spread of HIV/AIDS among mothers and children, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia. Dr. Rosenfield was among the first to call for specific attention to the ethical imperative of offering HIV-positive mothers ongoing care and treatment for HIV after pregnancy. 

Rosenfield interns and fellows will be based at amfAR’s Public Policy office in Washington, D.C. The mission of the Public Policy program is to foster national and international research, service delivery, and education programs on HIV/AIDS through evidence-based public policy activities. This training program will provide outstanding candidates with some of the skills and knowledge necessary to become effective leaders in public health. During the placement in amfAR’s Public Policy office, interns and fellows will co-author policy papers on specific issues related to the domestic and global HIV/AIDS epidemic. They will also contribute to the work of the Public Policy office by collaborating on writing and research projects, organizing meetings and conferences, and attending federal, Congressional, and NGO briefings.

Rosenfield interns and fellows will also participate in a range of public health advocacy activities that will connect them with others working in both the public and private sectors. This will provide interns and fellows with an opportunity to network with other young leaders and to develop advocacy skills to address some of the most pressing health issues of our time, particularly HIV/AIDS.

Eligibility criteria

Applicants for internships must be enrolled in an undergraduate program. Applicants for fellowships must have received an undergraduate degree prior to beginning the fellowship. In addition, they must be planning to enter or be currently enrolled in a graduate degree program (e.g., M.D., J.D., M.P.P, M.P.H., Ph.D), or have received one of these graduate degrees, with the intention of pursuing a career that will include a major focus on public health and public service.

Applicants selected for the training program will have demonstrated academic excellence as well as a strong commitment to improving the health of others nationally and globally. They must exhibit exceptional leadership potential, including superb communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills, as well as a commitment to interdisciplinary work and public service in government, NGOs, or education. Applicants must demonstrate strong writing and research skills and have an interest in health policy advocacy related to HIV/AIDS. Knowledge of the U.S. government and legislative processes is strongly preferred but not required.

Funding and length of placement

In 2011, amfAR intends to award as many as three Allan Rosenfield placements. Fellows will be selected for up to a six-month placement and interns will be selected for three months. Interns and fellows will receive stipends based on their academic degree status. Internships and fellowships also may include support to attend conferences and meetings.

Applicants must send a resume with relevant coursework, a description of experience in public health, law, policy, and/or medicine, experience and/or interest in HIV/AIDS, scores from SAT, MCAT, and any other relevant standardized tests, GPA from college and graduate school, a writing sample, and cover letter describing your interest in this issue and working at amfAR. Applicants should also specify the desired start date and fellowship applicants should state preferred duration of placement (three to six months).

For more information and to submit an application for amfAR’s Allan Rosenfield, M.D., HIV/AIDS Public Policy Internships and Fellowships, contact:

Kate Goertzen
amfAR Public Policy Office
1150 17th Street, N.W., Suite 406
Washington, D.C. 20036
202-331-8600 (o)
policyfellowship@amfar.org