The Policy community engages with health policy, regulatory affairs, and the intersection of medicine and government.
Community overview
Mission: Empower physicians to shape healthcare policy at local, state, and federal levels.
Focus areas:
- Healthcare legislation and regulation
- FDA and CMS policy
- State medical board issues
- Health equity and access policy
- Payment and reimbursement reform
Regular programming
| Event | Frequency | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Policy Pulse | Weekly | Newsletter digest of policy developments |
| Hill Day Prep | Quarterly | Training for congressional advocacy |
| Regulatory Deep-Dives | Monthly | Analysis of new regulations |
Resources
Slack channel
#policy — Main community channel
Policy briefs
One-pagers on key issues
Engagement opportunities
White House Fellowship
The most prestigious policy fellowship for physicians:
- Duration: 1 year
- Placement: Executive branch agencies
- Application: Opens each fall
Congressional health staffer
Serve as health policy advisor to a member of Congress:
- Roles: Health LA, committee staff
- Duration: 1-2 years typical
- Salary: $50,000-$80,000
Agency appointments
Work at HHS, FDA, CMS, NIH, or CDC:
- Types: Political appointees vs. career staff
- Entry points: Fellowships, details, direct hire
State-level engagement
- Medical board participation
- State health department roles
- Medicaid advisory committees
AMA and specialty societies
Organized medicine (AMA, specialty societies) offers structured policy engagement through councils, committees, and advocacy days.