The National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (NAAOP) has released its latest webcast in which General Counsel Peter Thomas, JD, seeks applications for NAAOP’s inaugural health policy/advocacy fellowship. The deadline to apply is March 31. Three finalists will be interviewed, and a selection made near the end of April for the ten-week summer program based in Washington.
Applicants must use a custom-fabricated orthosis or prosthesis, have an interest in public/health policy and advocacy, demonstrate an interest in advancing O&P care, and have excellent writing, speaking, and analytical skills.
The fellow will learn about O&P policy, advocacy, and how NAAOP and other O&P organizations function on behalf of the O&P community and within the broader rehabilitation and disability policy and advocacy community at the federal and state levels. The fellowship will also include exposure to O&P clinical and business settings and state-based public policy and advocacy.
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The fellow will receive a stipend of $500 per week and an office at NAAOP. The fellow will shadow Thomas, who will assign and oversee the fellow’s health policy and advocacy work. That work will focus on O&P policy, but also include exposure to the broader rehabilitation and disability policy environment. The fellow will also hear policy and advocacy speakers, attend congressional hearings, and participate in coalition and think tank meetings and presentations, and meetings with organizations in the broader rehabilitation and disability field.
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To apply for the fellowship, visit NAAOP’s website. The latest webcast is posted on the NAAOP website and on NAAOP’s YouTube channel as well as oandp.com, shared with members via email and made available via the NAAOP Facebook page.