Government Relations Resident Fellowship

Applications for 2025 are now open.

Are you a radiation oncology resident interested in government relations (GR), including congressional advocacy? If so, ASTRO’s new GR Fellowship program is for you.

According to the annual ASTRO member survey, GR activities, specifically congressional advocacy, frequently rank among the most important ASTRO functions. Radiation oncology residents consistently demonstrate a significant interest in advocacy, as demonstrated by high resident turnout annually at ASTRO’s Advocacy Day.

To engage residents in advocacy and create the next generation of ASTRO GR leaders, ASTRO’s Board approved the creation of a new GR Fellowship for one resident in 2025.

As the 2025 GR Fellow, you commit to and/or benefit from the following:

• Inclusion in GR and Health Policy committee calls for one year. 
• In-depth background briefings from ASTRO’s Advocacy staff. 
• Monthly mentoring sessions with ASTRO’s Advocacy staff. 
• Quarterly mentoring sessions with GR leaders. 
• Guaranteed Advocacy Day Emerging Advocacy Grassroots Leader (EAGL) Award (travel grant for attendance).
• Develop a presentation or article documenting experience to be published in an ASTRO communication vehicle or meeting.
• In addition to Advocacy Day, spend two days in Washington, DC, shadowing ASTRO’s Advocacy staff, participating in all Advocacy meetings and functions (including, but not limited to internal meetings, meetings with members of Congress or their staff and attending PAC fundraisers).
  • Travel, hotel and meal expenses will be covered for the trip.
  • The days in DC will be arranged based on the congressional calendar, as well as availability of the GR Fellow and ASTRO’s advocacy team. It is possible that the week will coincide with ASTRO’s Advocacy Day, but that is not guaranteed.
• Upon completion, fellows would be assigned to a GR subcommittee and expected to serve as an ambassador for ASTRO GR and advocacy.

How to apply:

• Fill out application form.
• Upload letter of interest, including answers to the following questions:
  • Why are you interested in the fellowship, health care policy and advocacy?
  • What makes you a strong candidate for this fellowship (include any advocacy activities and/or research)?
  • What do you hope to gain from this fellowship? How will this advance your career and the specialty?
  • Describe one or two meaningful experiences related to relevant leadership positions, honors and recognitions.
• Upload current CV. Be sure to include relevant leadership positions, honors and recognitions.
• Upload letter of recommendation from program director. (Other letters of recommendation accepted, but not required.)
• Complete (or update) ASTRO COI form within one week of submitting application.

Application deadline: August 23, 2024

ASTRO’s Government Relations Council Leadership will review applications and award one GR fellowship to a resident by the first week of September 2024.