The preceptors for this internship are inspired by the number of high-quality candidates that have applied for the 2021 internship, and are not currently accepting new applications. We are reviewing the current applications, crafting a class, and fundraising for stipends for additional interns.
The Vermont and Granite State (New Hampshire) chapters of Physicians for a National Health Program are offering five-week internships for at least four students during the summer of 2021. Medical students and students of other health professions will each be provided a stipend of $1,250. This internship will be “remote” again this year, with guest speakers from across the continent (including Canada).
The primary goal of the internship is to cultivate leaders who will fuse a solid understanding of health policy with the basic values of kindness and human decency so that they can transform the U.S. health care system to be on the one hand efficient, and on the other humane.
There are three aspects to the internship:
1. READINGS/DIDACTIC AND DISCUSSION SESSIONS ON HEALTH POLICY
The top priority for the internship is an educational agenda, which includes readings and didactic/discussion sessions by video conference encompassing the following topics:
- Understanding similarities and differences among health systems in other developed countries and comparing these to the United States.
- Understanding how Vermont’s and New Hampshire’s health care systems differ, and how each are intertwined
with federal health care programs across other states, and understanding the obstacles to state-based reform. - Exploring the history of the U.S. multi-payer system, including reform efforts at both the national and state levels, with demand-side reforms (Medicaid, Medicare, Obamacare) and supply-side reforms (community health centers, Veterans Administration, Indian Health Service, etc.).
- Examining “pricing failures” in the medical industry, incongruity of medical care with free market models,
and current sources of waste in allocation of the medical dollar. - Examining disparities in the delivery of medical services and outcomes in different U.S. communities.
- Contrasting the advantages and shortcomings of various reform models—voucher-based reforms, categorical reforms (income-based, disease-based, etc.) vs. universal reforms, including single-payer reform.
- Evaluating a variety of cost-control strategies, including ACO/HMO structures; bundled payments; global
budgeting for hospitals; centralized vs. free-market approaches to distribution of health resources; and
approaches toward reducing the cost of pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, and equipment. - Exploring the relationship between reform and planning of health information systems and health coverage.
- Exploring the business model of the pharmaceutical industry, including research priorities, marketing strategies, and factors that lead to extravagant drug prices.
This educational component will include a substantial reading and audio-visual media curriculum.
2. VIDEO CONFERENCE MEETINGS WITH THOUGHT LEADERS, GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR OFFICIALS, AND SAFETY NET AND OTHER HEALTH INSTITUTIONS, AS WELL AS DISCUSSIONS WITH ACTIVISTS
Interns will interview physicians and other professionals working in community health centers, free clinics, a community outreach team, a concierge practice, and a large Veterans Administration facility. They will interview hospital and private insurance administrators, as well as other private sector leaders. Interns will also meet with advocates on various sides of the health reform effort and with health sector leaders within state government.
3. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT & STRATEGIES TO FOSTER PUBLIC EDUCATION: PUBLIC SPEAKING, WORKING WITH MEDIA, OUTREACH TO PEERS
- Didactic sessions will be organized on strategies to work with social media and traditional media, to learn to interact with and make a presentation on cable access TV, and to discuss peer organizing and SNaHP chapter development.
- Interns are encouraged to develop an outreach/education plan directed at medical students and other health professions students.
- Interns are expected to make a presentation during the internship on health policy. This talk may be targeted to an audience of their choice (e.g. to peers vs. to the general public).
REQUIREMENTS:
Electronics: All interns will need their own computer and cell phone.
ELIGIBILITY:
Medical students from any medical school or other health professions school from any state are eligible to apply.
Highly motivated undergraduates may be considered as well.
People with expertise in art, music, or communications, and who are seeking to learn more about single payer and about health care advocacy, may be eligible for alternative internships and are encouraged to contact Betty Keller at bjkellermd@gmail.com.
APPLICATIONS:
The preceptors for this internship are inspired by the number of high-quality candidates that have applied for the 2021 internship, and are not currently accepting new applications. We are reviewing the current applications, crafting a class, and fundraising for stipends for additional interns.
