The AACAP Congressional Fellowship provides for one child and adolescent psychiatrist with significant interest in child and/or mental health advocacy to work in a congressional office. The awardee will serve a 10-month fellowship in Washington, DC, where they will have the opportunity to expand their knowledge of the federal legislative process, learn more about health care issues, and experience the governmental process while representing the field of child and adolescent psychiatry.

Program Benefits

• Receive $100,000 ($85,000 stipend, $10,000 housing allowance, $5,000 towards health insurance).
• Receive up to an additional $3,500 to support relocation expenses and/or AACAP Annual Meeting travel.
• Opportunity to work in a Congressional office (House or Senate) for ten months.
• Gain an understanding of how policy affects the practice of medicine, patient care, education, and health insurance issues.

Program Expectations

• Submit an article to AACAP News highlighting the AACAP Congressional Fellowship experience.
• Sit on AACAP Congressional Fellowship Selection Committee post-fellowship.
• Maintain AACAP membership.

Program Term*

August 1, 2027 – May 31, 2028

Criteria/Eligibility

• Be an AACAP member.
• Have completed, or be scheduled to complete by August 1, 2027, training in one of these child and adolescent psychiatry programs:
  • CAP Training Program
  • Integrated General Psychiatry and CAP Program
  • Triple Board Program
  • Post Pediatric Portal Program
• Have demonstrated interest in public policy issues; exhibit an interest in applying medical and scientific knowledge to the resolution of public policy issues.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Application Details

• Current curriculum vitae (CV)
• Letter of recommendation from:
  • Trainee applicant: a letter from department chairperson or training director.
  • General Member applicant: a letter from an AACAP colleague, preferably from ROCAP leadership or committee chair noting the applicant’s contributions.
• Personal statement, of no more than 1,000 words, describing the reasons for applying to this fellowship, how the fellowship will positively impact child and adolescent psychiatry, and plans for continued involvement in AACAP advocacy initiatives.

Application materials should be sent to govaffairs@aacap.org. Please note “Congressional Fellowship Application” in the email Subject field.

Deadline/Notification

• The application deadline is November 13, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
• Notification of award will be given in December 2026.
• 2027 Fellowship runs from August 2027 through May 2028.

*Actual dates of program start and finish might vary.

For any questions, please contact the AACAP Government Affairs team at govaffairs@aacap.org .

Past and Current Congressional Fellows

• Wes Smoot, MD (2026 – 2027): Office of Representative Kim Schrier, MD (D-WA-08)
• Terra Weston, MD (2025 – 2026): Office of Representative Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13)
• Priya Punnoose, MD (2024 – 2025): Office of Senator Ed Markey (D-MA)