About The Program
The Allan Rosenfield Internship and Fellowship Program at amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, was established to honor the distinguished public health leader Allan Rosenfield, M.D., dean of Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health for 22 years, chair of amfAR's program board, and a longtime member of the Foundation's board of trustees. This training program has been established for exceptional college undergraduates and graduate students who aspire to become leaders in public health and in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Rosenfield interns and fellows are based at amfAR's Public Policy office in Washington, D.C. They dedicate their time to public policy research and writing under the mentorship of the office's senior leadership. amfAR's Public Policy office is known for its considered analysis of emerging issues in AIDS policy including biomedical research, domestic and international AIDS funding, harm reduction, equity and human rights.
This program trains interns and fellows to become effective leaders in public health by immersing them in policy writing, research and advocacy from their very first day. Successful candidates are expected to conduct original writing and research related to the domestic and global HIV/AIDS epidemic as well as advocate to members of Congress and their staff, organize meetings and conferences, and participate in community briefings.
About Allan Rosenfield
As a pioneering physician, academic leader, and educator, Dr. Rosenfield demonstrated extraordinary commitment to the world's most vulnerable populations and was a champion of their rights and well-being for more than four decades. His career combined expertise in obstetrics and gynecology, family planning, public health, and HIV/AIDS with ardent advocacy of women's health and human rights. As a member of amfAR's board from 1997 to 2008, Dr. Rosenfield regularly provided Congressional testimony on behalf of amfAR in support of AIDS research and prevention initiatives including syringe exchange programs.
About amfAR
Founded in 1985, amfAR is dedicated to ending the global AIDS epidemic through innovative research and evidence-based public policies. With the freedom and flexibility to respond quickly to emerging areas of scientific promise, amfAR plays a catalytic role in accelerating the pace of HIV/AIDS research and achieving real breakthroughs. amfAR-funded research has increased our understanding of HIV and has helped lay the groundwork for major advances in the study and treatment of HIV/AIDS. Since 1985, amfAR has invested more than $340 million in its mission and has awarded grants to more than 2,000 research teams worldwide.
This training program will provide outstanding candidates with some of the skills and knowledge necessary to become effective leaders in public health. During the placement in amfAR's Public Policy office, interns and fellows will co-author policy papers on specific issues related to the domestic and global HIV/AIDS epidemic. They will also contribute to the work of the Public Policy office by collaborating on writing and research projects, organizing meetings and conferences, and attending federal, Congressional, and NGO briefings.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants for internships must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program. Applicants for fellowships must have received an undergraduate degree prior to beginning the fellowship. A graduate degree related to public health policy and its associated fields (e.g., M.D., J.D., M.P.P, M.P.H., Ph.D) is preferred but not required.
Applicants must demonstrate strong writing and research skills and have a demonstrated interest in health policy or advocacy related to HIV/AIDS. Knowledge of the U.S. government and legislative processes is also preferred but not required.
Funding and length of placement
In 2013, amfAR intends to award as many as six Allan Rosenfield placements. Placements are six months for fellows and three months for interns.
