THE COMMONWEALTH FUND
HARKNESS FELLOWSHIPS IN HEALTH CARE POLICY

The Commonwealth Fund of New York is pleased to announce the Harkness
Fellowships in Health Care Policy, and to invite applicants for the
2004-2005 fellowship cycle. The Harkness Fellowships in Health Care Policy
provide a unique opportunity for mid-career health policy researchers and
practitioners from the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, to spend
up to 12 months in the United States conducting a policy-oriented research
study, working with leading U.S. health policy experts, and gaining an
in-depth knowledge of the U.S. health care system.

Under a new partnership between The Commonwealth Fund and The PPP
Foundation, two additional U.K. fellowships were established in 2004,
bringing the total in the United Kingdom to seven. Supported by the PPP
Foundation, the Harkness/PPP Foundation Fellowships are targeted
specifically at health care practitioners, including executive clinicians
and managers in the health service, as well as senior civil servants
involved directly in health policy development.

Applicants must demonstrate a strong interest in health policy issues and
propose a research study that falls within the scope of The Commonwealth
Fund's national program areas.  Among the issues the Fund addresses are
improving health insurance coverage and access and improving the quality of
health care services.  Its quality programs focus not only on general
issues but also on the needs of specific groups, including underserved
populations, young children, and frail elders.  Studies that include
comparisons between the United States and the applicant's home country are
encouraged.

Once selected, the Fund will provide extensive support to successful
fellows to help them develop and shape their research proposals to fit the
U.S. context.  Through its network of contacts, the Fund will help identify
and place fellows with a mentor who is an expert in the policy area to be
studied.  In collaboration with the U.K. Harkness Selection Committee, a
home country mentor, who will act as a liaison with the U.S. mentor and
supervise any cross-national comparisons that are to be conducted as part
of the study, will also be identified after selection.

Building on their fellowship experiences, Harkness Fellows have published
their project findings in leading U.K. and U.S. journals including the
British Medical Journal, the Health Service Journal, Quality and Safety in
Health Care, Journal of the American Medical Association, and Health
Affairs, and moved into senior positions within academia, government, and
health care delivery organizations, making valuable contributions to health
policy and practice at home and in the United States.

The deadline for receipt of applications is September 1, 2003.  In order to
apply, applicants must be citizens of the United Kingdom, Australia, or New
Zealand and submit a formal application.

Each fellowship will provide up to $85,000 (U.S.) in support, which
includes round trip airfare to the United States, a monthly stipend,
seminars and policy briefings, project-related travel and other research
expenses, tuition for related academic courses, health insurance, and U.S.
taxes.  In addition, a family supplement is available to fellows
accompanied by a spouse and/or children.

Further information, brochure and application, can be obtained by
contacting  Robin Osborn at The Commonwealth Fund, One East 75th Street,
New York, NY 10021, U.S.A. (Tel: 001 212 606 3809 or  Email: [log in to unmask])
or online  -  see The Commonwealth Fund's webpage at www.cmwf.org