Meet the 2026 AHCJ U.S. and International fellows – Association of Health Care Journalists

2026 Fellowship Programs Advance Health Care Journalism Aligned with Sustainable Development Goals

The Association of Health Care Journalists (AHCJ) has announced the recipients of its 2026 fellowship programs, designed to empower journalists in enhancing public understanding of health care systems both in the United States and internationally. These initiatives emphasize the importance of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, by promoting informed reporting on health care access, quality, and equity.

Support and Objectives of the Fellowship Programs

Supported by The Commonwealth Fund, the fellowship programs provide journalists with resources to investigate critical health care issues. The programs align with SDG 3 by fostering research and reporting that can influence health policies and practices to improve health outcomes globally.

International Health Study Fellowship

Now in its fifth year, the International Health Study Fellowship enables four journalists to compare health care approaches in other countries with those in the U.S. This year marks the program’s expansion beyond Europe, broadening the scope of international health system analysis. The fellowship supports SDG 3 by identifying effective health interventions and policies that can be adapted to improve health care delivery in the U.S.

1. Jessie Hellmann (CQ Roll Call): Investigating England’s near elimination of hepatitis B and C to identify strategies and policy interventions that could enhance prevention and treatment efforts in the U.S.
2. Kiley Koscinski (90.5 WESA Pittsburgh): Exploring Japan’s dementia care policies to inform Pennsylvania’s response to its aging population, supporting SDG 3 targets on elderly care.
3. Nicoletta Lanese (Live Science): Examining Japan’s government-run program that successfully reduced outpatient antimicrobial overprescription, with implications for combating antimicrobial resistance in the U.S., addressing SDG 3.3 and 3.d.
4. Terri Langford (The Texas Tribune): Analyzing Japan’s investment in high-tech elder care, including robotics and AI, to address workforce shortages and improve elder care in Texas.

U.S. Health System Reporting Fellowship

Celebrating its 16th year, the U.S. Health System Reporting Fellowship supports five yearlong projects focusing on health care systems and health equity within the United States. These projects contribute to SDG 3 by investigating systemic challenges and disparities in health care access and quality.

1. Emily Brindley (The Dallas Morning News): Investigating surgical errors in Texas hospitals and patient justice under strict medical malpractice laws, highlighting patient safety and legal equity.
2. Monica Carrillo-Casas (The Spokesman-Review/Spokane Public Radio): Examining disproportionate impacts of long COVID on Latino farmworker communities in rural Washington, addressing health disparities and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
3. ChrisAnna Mink (Central Valley Journalism Collective): Assessing the effects of Medicaid funding cuts and vaccine policy disruptions on health care and immunization access for youth in California’s San Joaquin Valley.
4. Meg Wingerter (The Denver Post): Investigating ownership and regulatory oversight in nursing homes to understand factors affecting long-term care quality.
5. Team: Kelcie Moseley-Morris, Nada Hassanein, Shalina Chatlani, Anna Vollers, Sofia Resnick (States Newsroom): Exploring state funding shifts from community health clinics providing reproductive care to crisis pregnancy centers, with implications for health equity and reproductive rights.

Fellowship Impact and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

These fellowships embody AHCJ’s commitment to improving the quality and visibility of health journalism, fostering a diverse and informed community of reporters. By providing travel funds, reporting resources, mentorship, and training, the programs enable journalists to produce impactful stories that promote SDG 3 and related goals such as SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) through coverage of technological innovations in health care.

• Enhancing public discourse on health care challenges and solutions.
• Promoting health equity and access to quality care.
• Supporting evidence-based policy development through investigative journalism.
• Encouraging innovation in health care delivery and workforce sustainability.

About the Association of Health Care Journalists and The Commonwealth Fund

The Association of Health Care Journalists is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing public understanding of health care issues. With approximately 1,500 members worldwide, AHCJ aims to improve the quality, accuracy, and visibility of health care reporting. The organization provides training, resources, and support, including fellowships, webinars, and conferences.

The Commonwealth Fund is a private foundation committed to promoting a high-performing health care system that achieves better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency, especially for vulnerable populations. The Fund supports independent research and grants to improve health care practice and policy, aligning with the SDGs by advancing health equity and system performance.

Further Information

For more details on these fellowship programs and how AHCJ supports health journalism, visit the AHCJ Fellowships page.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article focuses on improving health care systems, addressing infectious diseases (hepatitis B and C), dementia care, antimicrobial overprescription, elder care, health equity, and access to vaccines and reproductive care.
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The investigations into health disparities among Latino farmworker communities and the diversion of public funding from community health clinics to crisis pregnancy centers highlight issues of inequality in health care access and outcomes.
3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • The article mentions Japan’s investment in high-tech elder care, including robotics and AI, which connects to innovation in health care infrastructure.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 3 Targets:
   • 3.3: End the epidemics of communicable diseases such as hepatitis B and C.
   • 3.4: Reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases, including dementia, through prevention and treatment.
   • 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including access to quality essential health care services and access to safe, effective vaccines.
   • 3.b: Support research and development of vaccines and medicines, and promote access to affordable essential medicines.
2. SDG 10 Targets:
   • 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, or economic or other status.
3. SDG 9 Targets:
   • 9.c: Increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries.
   • 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors, including health care technologies.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators related to SDG 3:
   • Prevalence and incidence rates of hepatitis B and C infections (Target 3.3).
   • Rates of dementia care access and quality (Target 3.4).
   • Number and percentage of people covered by health insurance or universal health coverage schemes (Target 3.8).
   • Rates of antimicrobial prescription and overprescription (Target 3.b).
   • Vaccination coverage rates, including COVID-19 vaccines (Target 3.b and 3.8).
   • Number of surgical errors reported and medical malpractice cases (quality and safety indicators).
2. Indicators related to SDG 10:
   • Health outcome disparities between ethnic groups, such as rates of long COVID, hospitalizations, and deaths among Latino farmworker communities versus white residents (Target 10.2).
   • Allocation and diversion of public health funding to different types of health service providers.
3. Indicators related to SDG 9:
   • Investment levels in health care technology such as robotics and AI for elder care (Target 9.5).
   • Adoption rates of innovative health care technologies and infrastructure improvements.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: healthjournalism.org