Health Policy Fellows Program

FOR STATE LEGISLATORS

The South Carolina Institute of Medicine and Public Health (IMPH) 
developed the Health Policy Fellows Program in 2013 to provide members 
of the General Assembly with clear, evidence-based health policy information in a nonpartisan manner. The Fellows Program is intended to assist elected officials by providing resources and information related to complex health topics. This program also highlights the importance of considering health implications as factors across all policy decisions.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The Fellows Program includes national speakers as well as South Carolina experts. Panels of health and public health professionals provide information about our state’s health challenges and share examples of promising practices across the state that are achieving success in improving community health.
The full series of Fellows classes is an ongoing program that is offered every other year for members of the General Assembly.

What Participants Learned in 2021

Class 1: Understanding Medicaid, Health Systems and Financing: Improving Return on Investment

Speakers: Robert Kerr, Director, South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS); Windsor Sherrill, Ph.D., MBA, MHA, Associate Vice President for Health Research, Clemson University, Chief Science Officer, Prisma Health – Upstate

This class helped participants better understand how the SC Medicaid system works. The class also included an overview of complex national and state level health care system structures and financing. Participants learned about and discussed changes that are occurring in our country as new philosophies emerge about how to pay for health care. Presenters addressed health care as a unique industry that does not adhere to basic economic theory.

Class 2: Determinants of Health Outcomes and Health Equity


Speakers: Joaquin Baca, MSPH, Sr. Policy Analyst, American Medical Association; Chynna Phillips, MSW, MPH, Research & Policy Director, Sisters of Charity Foundation; Noreen O’Donnell, MSW, Program Director, Diabetes Free S.C.; Angel Bourdon, MHA, Innovation Manager, Health People Healthy Carolinas, S.C. Hospital Association

This class oriented participants to the health status of South Carolinians, social determinants of health and racial and health inequities highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants learned about and discussed the human and financial burden of poor health outcomes and innovative solutions being implemented in South Carolina and across the country.

Class 3: Moving Forward to Improve Health: Conversational Capacity


Speaker: Craig Weber, Founder, The Weber Consulting Group

During the final class of the 2021 Health Policy Fellows Program, participants learned how to productively navigate polarizing issues using a practical framework for engaging in open, balanced and effective dialogue, including specific policy issues.
COST:
Free
LOCATION:
The Palmetto Club
1231 Sumter St, Columbia, SC 29201
TIME COMMITMENT:
3 Sessions over 5 Months
2023 DATES:
Tuesday, September 12
Tuesday, October 10
January Session TBD
HEALTH POLICY FELLOWS’ HOME DISTRICTS

HPFP ALUMNI districts are noted in red
Health Policy Fellows Map
HEALTH POLICY FELLOWS (2013-2021)
IMPH gratefully acknowledges the support of The Duke Endowment and Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina in making the Health Policy Fellows Program possible.

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