Health Journalism Fellowship
JAWS’ Health Journalism Fellowship is a unique opportunity for emerging and early career journalists who have an interest in and passion for upping their health care reporting skills.
2024 Fellows & Topics
Jasmine Aguilera, El Tímpano: A series on the experiences of undocumented Latino and Mayan people living in the San Francisco Bay Area as they navigate the complicated health insurance system and access California’s Medicaid program for the first time.
Sammy Caiola, Kensington Voice: A series examining sexual assault care in Philadelphia hospitals, including the availability of evidentiary exams and solutions for offering more trauma-informed care to sexual assault survivors, particularly those from Kensington who are unhoused, living with drug addiction and/or engaged in sex work.
Eleanore Catolico, NY & MI Solutions Journalism Collaborative: A solution-based long-form story examining efforts to increase the number of people of color participating in clinical trials for Alzheimer’s drugs.
Tamia Fowlkes, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: A long-form story examining why people in Wisconsin have difficulties in accessing assistive mobility technology, such as wheelchair lifts and vans, how those difficulties impact their daily lives, and local legislative pushes to address the problem.
Jayme Lozano Carver, The Texas Tribune: An in-depth story on women’s health in the Texas Panhandle, particularly the impact of ordinances such as the abortion travel prohibition in Amarillo, which would outlaw the use of Amarillo roads to transport a pregnant person for an abortion in another state.
Elizabeth Moss, independent journalist: An in-depth story or podcast examining why most cases of domestic violence strangulation, which are felony offenses in Missouri, are charged on the same level as traffic tickets in Kansas City and never make it to state court.
Anika Nayak, independent journalist: A series about the lack of access to contraceptives, gynecological care, and other reproductive health care services in upstate New York, as well as state-wide efforts to bring more services to areas that need them.
Roxanne Scott, independent journalist, New York Amsterdam News: A series examining the recurring groundwater flooding in Southeast Queens, including how and why Black people bought houses in the area, why the ecology and development of the region make it susceptible to flooding, and the ensuing health consequences of living in this environment, as well as the long-term financial and medical costs to homeowners of color.
Fellow Bylines
Pennsylvania law to improve sexual assault aftercare landscape remains unfunded
4/10/24 — Sammy Caiola — Kensington Voice
‘Who falls through the cracks?’: Philly’s sexual assault exam system creates barriers for survivors, skirts state rules
4/05/24 — Sammy Caiola — Kensington Voice
California’s expanded health coverage for undocumented immigrants collides with Medicaid checks
3/21/24 — Jasmine Aguilera — El Tímpano
The History That Explains Today’s Shortage of Black Midwives
2/29/24 — Anika Nayak — Time
WA Mental health providers say insurance reimbursement is not enough
12/21/23 - Michelle Baruchman – Seattle Times
What recovery?
12/20/23 - Lygia Navarro - palabra.
University Students Across Chicago Influence Schools To Stock Period Products
12/1/23 - Annabel Rocha - IL Latino News
ENDANGERED: Black doulas fight ‘staggering’ maternal mortality crisis
11/2/23 - Dana James – Black Iowa News
Doctors created a primary care clinic as their former hospital struggled
10/31/23 - Cecilia Nowell - CBS News
ENDANGERED: Hospital systems ‘don’t take our pain seriously,’ say Black Iowans
10/17/23 - Dana James – Black Iowa News
ENDANGERED: Racism in Maternity Care
10/10/23 - Dana James – Black Iowa News
How insurance companies fill their networks with “ghost” therapists
10/3/23 - Michelle Baruchman – Seattle Times
What Access To Period Products Looks Like In Some Schools
9/26/23 - Annabel Rocha - IL Latino News
Families fall deep in debt for mental health care. Why is insurance so spotty?
8/6/23 - Michelle Baruchman – Seattle Times
Tips to navigate insurance denials for mental health conditions
8/6/23 - Michelle Baruchman – Seattle Times
Doctors created a primary care clinic as their former hospital struggled
7/21/23 - Cecilia Nowell - KFF Health News
JAWS’ Health Journalism Fellowship program is supported by The Commonwealth Fund, a national, private foundation based in New York City that supports independent research on health care issues and makes grants to improve health care practice and policy.
