Grants & Funding

The Commonwealth Fund

Published Date: August 19, 2009

Program Information

Program Name:

Harkness Fellowships in Health Care Policy and Practice

Program URL:

http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Fellowships/Harkness-Fellowships.aspx

Type of Scientists Funded:

Initial MD Postdoc, Advanced MD Postdoc

Program Description:

The Commonwealth Fund's Harkness Fellowships in Health Care Policy and Practice provide a unique opportunity for mid-career health services researchers and practitioners from Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom to spend up to twelve months in the United States conducting original research and working with leading U.S. health policy experts. Fellows are expected to publish the results of their fellowship research in a peer-reviewed journal and/or in a report for health ministers and senior government officials. Fellows' research findings are also formally presented at the Harkness Fellows' annual final reporting seminar. The Harkness Fellowship Award provides up to $107,000 in support for each fellow. The award provides round-trip airfare to the United States, a fixed monthly stipend for the fellows' living expenses, funds to attend the Commonwealth Fund program of fellowship seminars, funds for project-related travel and other research expenses, health insurance coverage while in the U.S., and payment of U.S. federal and state withholding taxes. An additional family supplement is provided to fellows accompanied by a partner and/or children.

Public Contact Information

Program Award Term and Application Process

• Award Term Fixed or Variable?    Variable
• Minimum Term     
• Maximum Term     
• Award Renewable?    No
• Does an individual or institution apply to the program?    Individual
• Is there an application deadline?    Yes
• Application deadline(s):
  09/15/2009

Program FUNDS

• Stipend Information:
  
  
• Annual stipend type:    Not Applicable
• 
  Research Allowance Information:
  
  
• Annual research allowance type:    Not Applicable
• 
  Indirect Costs (Institutional Funds) Information:
  
  
• Indirect costs type:    Not Applicable
• 
  Other Costs Information:
  
  
• Other Costs type:    Not Applicable

Program Eligibility Requirements

Research Areas:

Biology, Clinical Research, Developmental Biology, Genetics, Immunology, Instrumentation, Neuroscience, Pharmacology

Application by invitation or nomination only?

No

Are awards limited to specific groups?

None provided

Must applicants be U.S. citizens and/or permanent residents?

No

U.S. geographic limits?

No

International geographic limits?

Yes

Details (specify region, state or other restrictions)?

Applicants must be citizens of Australia, Germany, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom (in the U.K., citizens of other countries with permanent residency and five or more years tenure in the U.K. may also apply).

Institutional limits?

No

Non-research activity allowed for postdoctoral and junior faculty awards?

If yes, specify at least one of the following: percentage time and activities allowed

• Other eligibility requirements:   
  Harkness Fellowships are designed for mid-career professionals who are committed to advancing health policy and practice in The Commonwealth Fund's principal areas of interest: improving health insurance coverage and access to care; and improving the quality and efficiency of health care services. Projects may include comparisons between the United States and the applicant's home country. Fellowships are not awarded to support study for academic degrees. All applicants must:
  
  Be citizens of Australia, Germany, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom (in the U.K., citizens of other countries with permanent residency and five or more years tenure in the U.K. may also apply);
  
  Show significant promise as a policy-oriented health services researcher or practitioner (clinician, health services manager, government official, or journalist);
  
  Have a demonstrated expertise in health policy issues and a track record of informing health policy through research, policy analysis, health services, or clinical leadership;
  
  Have a master's degree or doctorate (or the equivalent thereof) in health care services, health policy research, or a related discipline, such as economics or political science (consideration may be given to candidates with a bachelor's degree only, depending on work experience); and
  
  If academically based, be at a mid-career level (e.g., research fellow to senior lecturer).
  
  Candidates are selected based on their qualifications and leadership potential; their commitment to improving health care through research and practice; the quality of their research proposal; the relevance of their proposed research to the Fund's areas of interest and to policy development in their home country; and the strength of their supporting letters.
  
  Applications are reviewed by Fund staff and a panel of experts appointed in each of the five countries. A limited number of applicants will be invited for interviews, which will be conducted in London (for U.K. applicants), Germany (for German applicants), the Netherlands (for Dutch applicants), Norway (for Norwegian applicants), Switzerland (for Swiss applicants), Sydney (for Australian applicants), and Wellington or Auckland (for New Zealand applicants). Awards are subject to approval by the Fund's president and are contingent upon the Fund's approval of a final project proposal, budget, and mentor/institutional placement. The Fund does not provide critiques of applications that are declined.

Program competition information

• Number of Applicants in Most Recent Competition Year:   
• Number of Awards in Most Recent Competition Year:   
• Institutional Award Rates   

  Category	# Applicants	# Awards
  Institutional Awards

• Awardee's subsequent careers/accomplishments tracked after end of term?   
  
• Total dollars awarded in the most recent competition year