Letter from the CEO: A Look Inside the 2025 BLC Fellowship

Hi friends,

It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through the 2025 Bipartisan Learning Communities (BLC) Congressional Fellowship. And what a dynamic, engaging first half it’s been.

Since March, our first-ever fellowship cohort of 30 early-to-mid career Hill staff has been deepening their understanding of health policy, expanding their networks, and building the kind of confidence that only comes from real-world engagement and hands-on learning.

From the start, this fellowship was designed in direct response to what we heard from Hill managers. They need staffers who are not only knowledgeable about the fundamentals of health policy, but who can also navigate the unique culture, pace, and demands of getting things done on the Hill. We’ve aimed to strike that balance. And thanks to the insights of our expert community (and feedback from the fellows themselves), we’re off to a strong start.

Here’s a quick snapshot of what’s unfolded so far:

• An energizing orientation kickoff that set the tone, covering the timely topic of Reconciliation;
• Our first social dinner, where connections began to form in small group conversations with experienced leaders in health policy;
• A substantive, insider-focused webinar on how committees really work, and the best ways to work with staff there;
• The launch of our “Historical Moments in Health Policy” learning project, where fellows will explore key inflection points in policy history;
• A round of Expert Hours, connecting fellows directly with people in “the room where it happened” for MMA, ACA and IRA;
• The launch of our dedicated Fellow Portal, giving the fellows a virtual home base for session recordings, speaker bios, schedules, program milestones, and more.

Plus, here’s what a few BLC fellows have had to say after participating in this programming:

“One key takeaway from the program is that all new problems are old problems. Knowledge exists, and it’s important to talk about it with people who have worked to solve these problems before.” – Abigail Chance, Professional Staff Member, House Ways and Means Committee

“I learned that you don’t necessarily have to have all the answers to be a leader. Real leadership is about being able to coordinate with the right people and get the right insights.” – Karina Hull, Legislative Assistant, Representative Laura Friedman

One thing that’s become abundantly clear about this program – the unique value of the Alliance’s programs stems directly from our ability to connect today’s healthcare policy giants with the next generation of leaders. The speakers who have generously shared their expertise and perspective are what make this experience one of a kind. In return, many have shared how inspired they felt by the fellows’ curiosity, collaboration, and the thoughtful questions they bring to the table. To those of you who’ve shared your knowledge and lessons learned, we’re so grateful.

And, speaking of gratitude, we want to answer one question we hear a lot: who is funding this fellowship? The answer is the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and we are so lucky to have a funding partner who not only recognizes the need for education for policymakers, but invests to address those challenges and support tomorrow’s health policy leaders. They deserve so much credit for committing to this program.

We’re proud of the momentum so far, and already thinking about what’s next, so watch this space!

Thank you for being part of the Alliance community that makes this needed, important work of educating health policymakers possible.

Sincerely,

Claire Sheahan, M.Sc.

President and CEO
Alliance for Health Policy

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