New AAFP Fellowship Program Aims to Develop 'Vaccine Science' Experts

The AAFP is soliciting applications from members for two vaccine science fellowships. The newly minted fellowship program is designed to develop a cadre of family physician experts who will assist the Academy in providing effective input into the deliberations and decisions of federal and state public health agencies that set vaccine policies.

The fellows also will be involved in educating family physicians about advances in vaccines and addressing the interface between the public health and family physician communities to make vaccine information relevant for AAFP members. The ultimate goal of the program is to improve public acceptance of vaccines and use of immunizations, as well as heighten the level of vaccine safety.

Herbert Young, M.D., director of the Academy's Scientific Activities Division, said the AAFP needs more family physicians to be "significantly involved" with immunizations, science and policy.

"We need a pipeline of family physicians with special knowledge about immunizations for a variety of reasons, including research, policy creation and education," Young said.

The AAFP will select two fellows each year for one-year commitments. The program, which is slated to last three to five years, is funded by a grant from Merck & Co. Inc., but the vaccine manufacturer will have no input or control over the selection of fellows or content of the fellowship program.

Jonathan Temte, M.D., Ph.D., an associate professor in the department of family medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, and a member of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, and Doug Campos-Outcalt, M.D., M.P.A., the AAFP's liaison to the ACIP and associate head of the department of family and community medicine and assistant dean for outreach and multicultural affairs at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, will serve as mentors in the program.

"They'll have a mentor, people who are very much involved with immunizations," Young said of the fellows. "They will see how policy is developed by the ACIP and meet with government and industry leaders to give them a good, solid foundation to pursue a variety of activities."

Fellows can expect to attend about seven vaccine-related meetings and other events during their fellowship term, with travel costs covered by the fellowship program. Proposed venues include meetings of the ACIP and the National Vaccine Advisory Committee; attendance at the CDC's National Immunization Conference; trips to Washington, D.C., to meet with key congressional committee staff; and meetings with vaccine manufacturers.

Young said the AAFP likely would select applicants who are in the "early stages of their careers."

Applicants must be active members of the AAFP and also must be U.S. citizens. Applicants also should plan to devote about 10 percent of full-time employment for one year to program activities. Accordingly, an applicant’s institution and/or department chair must submit a letter agreeing to the time commitment for the applicant to complete the fellowship.

Prospective candidates are invited to submit a curriculum vitae and letter of interest to Bellinda Schoof, M.H.A., C.P.H.Q., AAFP's scientific affairs manager, via e-mail. The application deadline is April 15.