Osteopathic health policy fellows visit Ohio

In August, the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine hosted a four-day orientation for osteopathic leaders interested in becoming more engaged in health policy. 

The Osteopathic Health Policy Fellowship is a ten-month long training program run by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, designed to give fellows a better understanding of how policies are formed, how to analyze them and how to advocate and communicate about policy issues.

Fellows attended sessions on the Dublin campus, a public health agency and the Ohio Statehouse as they met with policy makers, public health officials, legislative affairs personnel and more. 

Dan Skinner, Ph.D., professor of health policy, is the director of the OHFP and used the time with the class to address the fellowship’s theme: how osteopathic professionals can look beyond clinical medicine to positively shape the health of populations in their neighborhoods. 

Twelve fellows, all osteopathic physicians and medical educators from 10 states, are participating in this year’s class. Their next training session will take place in Idaho.