Ambika Sharma Selected First Capitol Hill Medical Fellow
Nov 23, 2011
Washington, D.C. - The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) issued the following statement after successfully launching its new Capitol Hill medical fellowship program, which seeks to place fourth-year medical students in bipartisan congressional offices to assist with health care research and policy work.
“This new initiative enables the next generation of AAPI members to understand the legislative process and develop a better understanding of how Congress approaches issues in our current health care system,” said Dr. Sunita Kanumury, AAPI president. “We are pleased to announce the launch of this new program, and hope to see its popularity grow,” said Kanumury.
AAPI has selected several fourth-year medical students for its inaugural Capitol Hill medical fellowship program. Selected candidates have excelled at their curricular work, performed medical research, and have work experience in the health care arena. They will be placed in a congressional office to help them gain a better understanding of how Congress approaches health care reform and will receive a stipend during their fellowship. The first recipient of the fellowship was Ambika Sharma, a fourth-year medical student from George Washington University in Washington, D.C, who recently completed her fellowship in the office of U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC-02), who sits on one of the committees with jurisdiction over health care policy in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“My experience working in Congress has been great,” said Sharma. “I've attended hearings, met with the Surgeon General of the United States Dr. Regina Benjamin, performed legislative research on Medicare Part D, Medicare SGR, acute care rehab facilities, and reviewed cancer research. AAPI’s Capitol Hill medical fellowship has been fascinating and a great learning experience! Taking my medical knowledge and experience on the wards and then applying that in the policy setting has been really educational! I highly recommend the program to other medical students and appreciate this new opportunity that AAPI has opened up for us,” said Sharma.
"I am honored to be the first member of Congress to participate in AAPI’s Capitol Hill medical fellowship program,” said U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson. “This program enables members of Congress to receive health care input from future physicians and gives these future doctors insight into the legislative process. It's a win-win for everyone involved, and I am honored to participate," Wilson said.
“By opening this new door for AAPI medical students, we hope they will gain invaluable insight into the inner workings of Congress, teaching them a new skill set in understanding how the actions of Congress can dramatically impact our practices and livelihoods,” said Dr. VijayaLakshmi Appareddy, chair of AAPI’s legislative committee.
Prior to attending medical school, Sharma performed a one-year fellowship at Oxford University with a concentration in Neuroscience and Psychology and received her undergraduate degree from George Washington University. Sharma has worked at the Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Services; Allegheny General Hospital Division of Pediatric Cardiology; University of Pittsburgh; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; George Washington University’s Departments of Emergency Medicine and Psychology; and at a health care clinic in Rajasthan, India. She is a member of AAPI’s medical students, residents and fellows section, serving as the chair of its legislative committee.
Additional recipients of AAPI’s Capitol Hill medical fellowship program have been selected and AAPI is in the process of finalizing their placement in congressional offices. More details will be announced once the placement of these candidates has been finalized.