The Jeanne Spurlock Congressional Fellowship was established in honor of the late Jeanne Spurlock, M.D., a former APA Deputy Medical Director and a child and minority mental health advocate.

The fellowship aims to provide the opportunity for two psychiatry residents or early career psychiatrists with significant interest in child and/or minority mental health advocacy to work in a congressional office. The recipients serve a 10-month fellowship in Washington, D.C., during which they will have the unique opportunity to expand their knowledge of federal legislative healthcare issues and experience the governmental process from within the system while serving the office on the practice of medicine and psychiatry.

The Jeanne Spurlock Congressional Fellowship is funded by the APA Foundation.

Program Benefits

• Receive $100,000 ($85,000 stipend, $10,000 housing allowance, $5,000 towards health insurance) and moving expenses (up to $3,500) to and from Washington, D.C.
• Opportunity to work on Capitol Hill for 10 months in a federal office (congressional or senate)
• Gain a key understanding of how policy affects the practice of medicine, patient care, education and health insurance issues.
• Interact with health policymakers and advocacy/professional groups.
• Participate on an assigned APA Council or APAF initiative where organizational decisions are made.
• Gain an understanding of APA Governance through service on an APA Council, Committee or APAF initiative.

Program Expectations

• Maintain APA membership
• Participate in the All Fellows' Orientation during the APA September Components Meeting
• Schedule mid-year and year-end evaluations with Fellowship Manager
• Prepare a mid-year and year-end report outlining fellowship experiences
• Sit on Spurlock Fellow Selection Committee post-fellowship

Number of Awards

2 per year, pending funding

Duration

10 months

Program Term

August 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022

Eligibility at the Time of Matriculation

• APA member
• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Psychiatry resident, fellow or early career psychiatrist
• Interest in involvement with the Council on Advocacy and Government Relations

You may apply for as many APA/APAF Fellowships during an application cycle based on your eligibility. However, participation in more than one APA fellowship simultaneously is not permitted.

Application Requirements

• Complete online application form
• Curriculum vitae including any relevant political experience or leadership positions
• One-page personal statement explaining how the fellowship will positively impact the applicant's career and better facilitate continued involvement in relevant APA advocacy initiatives.
• Three letters of recommendation:
  • Resident applicant: a letter from the department chairperson or training direct or
  • Early career psychiatrist applicant: a letter from their District Branch(DB) President or Executive Director noting the applicant's contributions to the DB
  • Two letters of recommendation from psychiatrists

Application Deadline

• January 31, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. (Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time)

Award Notification

March

Contact

American Psychiatric Association Foundation
c/o Fellowships Team
Email: [email protected]