Harkness Fellowships of The Commonwealth Fund of New York

Announcing the 2009 Harkness report-back seminars, with Rhema Vaithianathan (PhD), 2007-08 Harkness Fellow.

The Harkness Fellowships in Health Care Policy provide a unique opportunity for mid-career professionals to spend up to 12 months in the US, conducting original research and working with leading US health policy experts.

The Harkness Fellowships are a key component of The Commonwealth Fund of New York’s International Program in Health Policy and Practice, which seeks to build a worldwide network of policy-oriented health care researchers and stimulate innovative thinking on health policy and practice in the US and other industrialised countries.

Dr Rhema Vaithianathan was a 2007-08 Commonwealth Fund Harkness Fellow in Health Care Policy and Practice and is a health economist and senior lecturer at the Department of Economics at the University of Auckland. Rhema will speak on her Harkness Fellowship experience – she was based at the Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston. Her research topic was Insurance Coverage and Cost Growth. The seminars will be held in three cities:

• Christchurch: Friday 22nd May, 12.30-1.30 p.m. Rolleston Lecture Theatre, University of Otago, Christchurch (Christchurch Hospital), Riccarton Road.

• Auckland: Wednesday 27th May, 12.30-1.30 p.m. Function Room 220, School of Population Health, University of Auckland Tamaki Campus, 261 Morrin Road, Glen Innes.

• Wellington: Wednesday 3rd June, 12-1.00 p.m. as part of the Dean’s Lecture Series. Small Lecture Theatre, Level D, University of Otago Wellington Building, 23a Mein Street, Newtown, Wellington

These are open to the public and no registrations are required. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Martin Boswell, programme and advising team leader, Fulbright NZ, Phone 04-494 1507 or visit: www.fulbright.org.nz