Introducing the 2024-25 SOPH Health Policy Fellows

The John D. Bower School of Population Health is proud to announce the selection of our 2024-25 Health Policy Fellows: Kerri Ivey, Jacquelyn Mares, Sanzida Swarna, David Sandy, and Torrey Robinson. These outstanding graduate students will embark on a transformative 4-month immersion in health policymaking, working alongside experts from the Center for Mississippi Health Policy and state agencies.

"Our Health Policy Fellowship provides an invaluable opportunity for the next generation of population health leaders to gain hands-on experience navigating the legislative process," said Dr. Fazlay Faruque, the program's coordinator. "We are thrilled to welcome this impressive cohort and know they will make the most of this unique learning experience."

Over the course of the fellowship, Kerri, Torrey, Sanzida, Jacequelyn, and David will participate in a series of seminars covering topics such as healthcare economics, state budgets, and priority health policy issues in Mississippi. They will also have the chance to collaborate directly with policymakers, current and former state agency leaders, and other health policy experts.

"I'm excited to dive into the inner workings of health policymaking through this fellowship," said Torrey, a PHS PhD student. "Learning from seasoned professionals and tracking legislation will equip me with the skills to be an effective advocate for population health in the future."

"The Bower School is committed to cultivating population health leaders who can navigate the complexities of policymaking," said Dr. Thomas Dobbs, Dean of the School of Population Health. "We are confident that this talented group of fellows will make the most of this opportunity and go on to drive meaningful change."