Below are brief summaries of Grant Results Reports available on past grantmaking in this field of interest. In some cases, the grants were made before the team decided on its current strategic objective. Findings and lessons from the grants described have nonetheless informed RWJF’s grantmaking. Visit the Foundation’s Web site www.rwjf.org for more Grant Results Reports.

Program Inspires Best and Brightest to Pursue Careers in Health Policy
The Scholars in Health Policy Research Program, established in 1991, invites talented recent graduates of doctoral programs in economics, political science and sociology to spend two years at a leading university pursuing health policy research. Schools hosting scholars include the University of California at Berkeley and San Francisco, which have a combined program, the University of Michigan and Harvard University. Each year about 12 scholars conduct research under the guidance of faculty mentors, participate in seminars and workshops and audit courses in health policy and related subjects. As of December 2004, 41 economists, 47 political scientists and 41 sociologists have participated. Boston University’s Health Policy Institute manages the program. See the National Program Report at www.rwjf.org/reports/npreports/shprp.htm.

Getting Down to Business: Public Health Professionals Learn How to Manage
Most public health professionals enter management positions with clinical expertise but lack budgeting and other managerial skills. From 1998 to 2003 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) administered a pilot educational program to improve the management competency of public health professionals and the effectiveness of their agencies in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CDC subcontracted with the Kenan-Flagler Business School and the School of Public Health of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to run the Management Academy for Public Health, a nine-month training program. Over the four-year period, 593 managers graduated from the academy. An evaluation of the program found that graduates of the first three years, who were trained at a total cost of $2 million, applied their skills and competencies to garner more than $6 million in revenue for their agencies. See the Grant Results Report at www.rwjf.org/portfolios/resources/grantsreport.jsp?filename=033489.htm.

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