July 15, 2010 (Baltimore, MD)— The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, has chosen Dr. Paul Lipkin, Director of Kennedy Krieger Institute's Center for Development and Learning, for a highly coveted National Health Policy Fellowship. As America's health care system enters a period of dramatic change, and the lives of millions are impacted by the nation's health policy, Dr. Lipkin will bring his vast knowledge of developmental disorders to Capitol Hill as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation® Health Policy Fellow.
Dr. Lipkin specializes in the evaluation and treatment of children from preschool through adolescence with delayed language development, autism spectrum disorders, developmental delays, intellectual disability and other problems of learning, attention and behavior. His research interests involve the early identification and treatment of developmental disorders in children, including implementation of developmental screening in pediatric offices. In addition to his role at Kennedy Krieger, Dr. Lipkin is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and a Past Chairman of the Council on Children with Disabilities of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Dr. Lipkin was chosen through a competitive selection process and will join five other exceptional health professionals for a one-year fellowship in the nation's capital, beginning in September of 2010. Candidates will participate in a three-month orientation program followed by a nine-month assignment in which fellows work in a congressional office or the executive branch. This experience is enhanced by health policy leadership development activities provided throughout the year.
"The real world health and health care experiences of our fellows provide a critical perspective to major health policy decisions and will be invaluable as the country navigates health reform," said Marie Michnich, Dr.P.H., director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellows program. "While being key players on Capitol Hill, our fellows also gain an insider's view of the political process, leadership skills, and a professional network that lasts a lifetime."
"I am honored to be one of the 2010 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellows and work among leaders who have the opportunity to revolutionize health care," said Dr. Paul Lipkin, Director of the Center for Development and Learning at Kennedy Krieger Institute. "I hope that my knowledge of children with special needs can help ensure that their best interests are considered in policy decisions and that their lives are improved by the changes to our health care system."
The Health Policy Fellows is a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation with direction and technical assistance provided by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. Additional information about the RWJF Health Policy Fellows can be found at www.healthpolicyfellows.org.
About the Kennedy Krieger Institute
Internationally recognized for improving the lives of children and adolescents with disorders and injuries of the brain and spinal cord, the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, MD serves more than 13,000 individuals each year through inpatient and outpatient clinics, home and community services and school-based programs. Kennedy Krieger provides a wide range of services for children with developmental concerns mild to severe, and is home to a team of investigators who are contributing to the understanding of how disorders develop while pioneering new interventions and earlier diagnosis. For more information on Kennedy Krieger Institute, visit www.kennedykrieger.org.
About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For more than 35 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org. For an overview of RWJF scholar and fellow opportunities, visit www.RWJFleaders.org.