Career Development: Fellowships & Internships
AHCJ-CDC Health Journalism Fellowships
The Association of Health Care Journalists has teamed up with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for this national fellowship program for journalists. Ten fellows are chosen to spend a week studying a variety of public health issues at two CDC campuses.
The AHCJ-CDC Health Journalism Fellows will:
- attend sessions on epidemiology, global disease prevention efforts, pandemic flu preparedness, climate change, vaccine safety, obesity, autism and more
- tour the CDC director's National Emergency Operations Center
- meet new sources on policy and research
- learn how to tap the agency's abundant resources to produce better stories
The competitive fellowships are open to professional journalists working in the United States. The fellowships include membership, travel, lodging and meals.
Applications accepted in the fall.
Read how valuable the experience was to previous fellows:
Marshall Allen (right), a Las Vegas Sun reporter, speaks to Grant Baldwin, Ph.D., director of the CDC’s Injury Center, about interpreting child safety data for localizing stories, during the 2008 fellowship.
"It's been a great opportunity to connect with sources and hear about issues that fly under the radar. It will significantly improve my understanding and coverage of CDC-related health issues. Great access to top level sources. This conference provided that personal connection that can make the difference in timely, relevant response."
– JoNel Aleccia, health writer, msnbc.com"You must offer this fellowship program again! I wish every member of the AHCJ could attend. There's no question that it's an experience that will improve my reporting. These briefings really pulled back the curtain on many of the CDC's activities. I have enough story ideas to keep me busy for years!"
– Lorna Benson, Minnesota Public Radio"So helpful to get health information straight from the top experts in U.S. health. As a magazine freelancer, I was brimming with story ideas after leaving the fellowship, and I soon put that information to use in articles for Good Housekeeping, Reader's Digest, More, Parenting and other publications."
– Meryl Davids, freelance writer, Boca Raton, Fla.