Recent HOP graduate Steve Newell Ph.D., has accepted a fellowship with the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and will be speaking at SPSSI’s new conference, A Road Less Traveled: Forging Links between Psychological Science and Social Policy, in June.
“I am excited to have the opportunity to help translate science into policy while working toward implementation of evidence-based solutions in health and other domains,” said Newell, who is a Master of Science student in the Department of Health Outcomes & Policy and doctoral student in the Department of Psychology. “Although researchers are often among the most informed on an issue, their expertise does not always reach policymakers in an easily understood format, or at all in many cases, so I look forward to aiding in that process. My work with the Department of Health Outcomes & Policy provided invaluable experience communicating about complex health issues and addressing the health needs of vulnerable populations.”
The fellowship, which will begin Sept. 1, is given to one applicant per year and has three aims: to train early career scientists to consider social issues in the formation of public policy at the federal level, to educate the scientific community about how research can contribute to the development of public policy, and to establish a more effective liaison between social scientists and various policy-making mechanisms.
“Steve’s interdisciplinary background makes him a valuable asset to SPSSI, especially given our country’s increased awareness about the need for health promotion in all government policies,” said Betsy Shenkman, chair of the Department of Health Outcomes & Policy and Newell’s mentor. “We’re thrilled about his entrance into the job market and wish him well in his future endeavors and at his upcoming conference.”
Newell will present his five-minute science-for-policy talk, “Children’s Public Health Insurance Programs and Experienced Prejudice,” at the upcoming SPSSI conference in Washington D.C., June 20-21.
The talk was developed in conjunction with Melissa Bright, assistant research scientist in the Department of Health Outcomes & Policy, and summarizes a paper the two are working on about the relationship between adverse childhood events and child health insurance coverage. Specifically, the talk focuses on children’s experiences with prejudice and issues surrounding insurance coverage, such as parental awareness of public health insurance programs and incidence of lapses in child health insurance coverage.
More information on SPSSI is available here.