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While health journalism has flourished since the pandemic amid a groundswell of mainstream interest, changes in the media environment have challenged news outlets—especially local newsrooms—with dwindling resources and a limited pool of specialized health care reporters. Such resource and expertise gaps have contributed in part to the proliferation of health misinformation materially impacting public health, such as related to infectious disease outbreaks like measles and natural disasters like extreme heat.

The fellowship is a one-of-a-kind, paid training opportunity tailored specifically to address these challenges. It is designed to help fill gaps in rigorous, solutions-driven reporting on health equity in the United States by developing a pipeline of talented early career health communicators—especially given the sparsity of paid opportunities for career development in this cohort.

This hybrid program begins in September 2026 with an intensive skills-building boot-camp at Stanford University’s medical campus, followed by six months of project-based and immersive, hands-on training. Fellows who do not already have newsroom affiliation will be matched for an externship with newsroom partners including ABC News, Ethnic Media Services, and elsewhere. In addition to receiving graduate-level education from leading experts, extensive networking opportunities with national and local leaders, and longitudinal mentorship from leading practitioners in public health and journalism, fellows will receive a $6,000 stipend to support their efforts, as well as an additional $500 stipend for travel expenses. Fellows will be expected to publish at least three articles in credentialed news outlets by the termination of their fellowship term.

Over the course of the year, fellows will work together to shed new light on health disparities; hold health institutions accountable; explore emergent solutions and trailblazing ideas in medical research and health care; meet physicians and leaders currently engaged with the field; and build portfolios and cultivate practical skills through workshops in health, narrative, and storytelling.

The program is open to fellows from diverse backgrounds, including those with a traditional media background and those with careers in health care or research, regardless of academic or professional affiliation. All prospective fellows must be within five years of graduation from a degree-granting program (i.e., a bachelor’s or master’s in journalism) or medical training program (i.e., residency or fellowship). Recent Stanford graduates are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is April 30, 2026.

To read previously published work by HEMF fellows, visit: https://med.stanford.edu/medicineandthemuse/Education/health.html