The Commonwealth Fund invites promising mid-career professionals—academic researchers, clinicians, managers, government policymakers, and journalists—from Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, to apply for a unique opportunity to spend up to 12 months in the United States as a Harkness Fellow in Health Care Policy and Practice. Fellows work with leading U.S. experts to conduct a research study that addresses a critical issue on the health policy agenda in both the U.S. and their home country. A rich program of seminars organized by the Fund throughout the year further enhances the fellowship experience (described in the Fellowship Seminars section.)

Fellows can expect to gain an in-depth understanding of the U.S. health care system and policy challenges, enhance their methodological skills, and develop valuable contacts and opportunities for ongoing cross-national exchange and collaboration.

In addition to the opportunity to conduct a research study in the U.S., the Harkness Fellowships provide space to think and reflect without the pressures of day-to-day job responsibilities.

Building on their fellowship experiences, Harkness Fellows have moved into prominent positions within academia, government, and health care delivery organizations, making valuable contributions to health policy and practice at home and in the United States. Harkness Fellows also become part of a strong international network of health policy researchers and practitioners, developing important contacts for ongoing international exchange and collaboration.

Fellowships provide up to U.S. $107,000 for terms of nine to 12 months, with a minimum stay of seven months in the United States required. Individually tailored, the fellowships allow flexibility to accommodate professional commitments and personal circumstances. A peer-reviewed journal article or policy report is the anticipated product of each project.

Applicants must demonstrate a strong interest in health policy issues and submit a formal application that includes a research proposal which falls within the scope of The Commonwealth Fund's principal areas of focus: health care system performance, including access to care, insurance coverage, quality improvement, efficiency, and equity; quality of care for children, the elderly, and minorities; and patient-centered primary care.

Call for applications for the 2010–11 Harkness Fellowship cycle is now closed. The application for the 2011–12 cycle will be available in early 2010.

Up to 14 Fellows are selected annually, typically three from Australia and New Zealand, three from Germany, two from the Netherlands, one from Switzerland, and five from the United Kingdom. In 2001, the program was expanded to include two Canadian Harkness Associates, selected in conjunction with the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation.

Starting with the 2006–07 class of Harkness Fellows, The Commonwealth Fund expanded the program to include Fellows from Germany. Since 2007, through a partnership with the Robert Bosch Stiftung, support has been provided for a Harkness/Bosch Fellow. The same year, through a partnership with the B.Braun Stiftung, support was first provided for a third Harkness Fellow from Germany. In 2008–09, the Fund launched a Dutch Harkness Fellowship program. The Fund is pleased to announce a partnership with the Careum Foundation, which will provide support for a Swiss Harkness Fellow, beginning with the 2009–10 class.

Starting in 2010, the Research Council of Norway through its health services research programme, in collaboration with the Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services, will support a Norwegian Harkness Fellow to promote stronger international links and inputs to Norwegian health policy and systems research.

Once selected, the Commonwealth Fund will assist Fellows in developing and shaping their research proposals. The Fund will introduce Fellows to U.S. policy experts, with whom they will be encouraged to discuss their projects to gain further feedback. Through its extensive network of contacts, the Fund will help identify and place Fellows with mentors who are experts in the policy areas to be studied. In the United States, the Fund will place each Fellow with a mentor who is based at a university, think tank, health care organization, or government agency. Mentors supervise Fellows' research, provide technical expertise and guidance, and facilitate access to data, colleagues, and organizations.

The 2009–10 Harkness Fellows in Health Care Policy and Practice will arrive in the United States from August to September 2009. During their stay in the United States, Fellows identify and collect data, conduct site visits or interviews, and meet with experts, as they undertake a substantiative research study addressing critical issues of policy and practice relative to the U.S. and their home country.

Fellows present project findings at a final reporting seminar in June 2010. The expected product is a peer-reviewed journal article or report for Health Ministers and other high-level policy audiences. Harkness Fellows publish their project findings in leading journals (such as the BMJ, Canadian Medical Association Journal, Health Affairs, Journal of the American Medical Association, Medical Journal of Australia, New England Journal of Medicine, and New Zealand Medical Journal).