Child Health Advocacy Institute Equity and Policy Elective

A diverse workforce of academic clinicians equipped with the skills to dismantle structural inequities is essential to improving the health of all patients, in particular, those of systemically disadvantaged and under-resourced backgrounds.

The CHAI Equity and Policy Elective is a structured, two-week elective that will expose participants to pertinent topics in pediatric health equity through didactic lectures and asynchronous readings. Students will also engage in discussions with physicians and field experts who are experienced in advocacy, equity and health policy. As future physicians, students will be able to apply this knowledge to serve as physician-advocates.

Accepted applicants will be provided a stipend to cover travel and accommodation expenses. All applicants are welcomed though we are particularly interested in those with diverse life experiences and backgrounds.

How to Apply

Applicants must be in good standing at their medical school and have completed core clinical clerkships with passing grades by the time of participation in the elective.

Please complete our online application by 11:59pm (EST) on Friday, April 28, 2023.

For more information, email us.

More About the CHAI Elective

What is the Child Health Advocacy Institute?

In 2007, Children’s National became home to the country’s first hospital based department focused exclusively on child health advocacy, the Child Health Advocacy Institute (CHAI). Through leadership and collaboration, CHAI advances policy and systems changes to achieve health equity for all children.

CHAI features five departments, including:

Community Affairs
Government Affairs
Community Mental Health
Child Health Data Lab
Advocacy Education

Areas of focus include:

Community engagement
Data
Education
Policy

When is this elective offered?

Can I submit a part of the application late?

Do I have to also apply through AAMC’s Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) / Visiting Student Application Service (VSAS)?

I can’t find Children’s National on VSAS. What should I do?

My school will not let me do a two-week away rotation. What can I do?

What kind of USMLE/COMLEX score report should I submit?

Do you need an official copy of my medical school transcript?

Do I need to submit a letter of recommendation?

Yes, one letter of recommendation is required for your application to be considered complete. Please have a faculty member who knows you clinically (rotation director, faculty who has worked with you on a rotation, pediatrics or otherwise, etc.) either provide you with a PDF copy of a letter or email it directly to Matt Magyar. Note that your acceptance to the program may be conditional on receipt of a letter of recommendation.