Communications Fellow

About AcademyHealth:

AcademyHealth is the professional home and leading national organization for health services researchers, policymakers, and health care practitioners and stakeholders. Our mission is to improve health and health care by generating new knowledge and moving that knowledge into action. Our dynamic team values collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to excellence in all that we do.

Position Summary:

AcademyHealth is seeking a Communications Fellow to help tell compelling stories about the impact of health services research—stories that resonate with audiences beyond the research community, including journalists, policymakers, and the public. We’re a small, ambitious team with big goals—to ensure that evidence and science are heard, understood, and acted on at a time when truth itself is often under threat. The Fellow will help us connect the dots between research and real-world impact, shaping narratives that resonate beyond the research community. This is an exciting opportunity to join a creative communications team at a pivotal moment when evidence and scientific integrity are under threat and trust in experts is lagging. The Fellow will play a key role in bringing research to life for audiences including policymakers, journalists, and the public.

This position offers a unique opportunity for an early- to mid-career communications professional to contribute to high-visibility projects such as AcademyHealth’s Situation Report, media outreach, and digital storytelling. The Fellow will work closely with the Digital Communications Manager and the broader Communications and Marketing team to develop content that showcases health services research and advances the organization’s goal of elevating evidence and science in public discourse.

This position reports to the Digital Communications Manager and works in close coordination with the Senior Director of Communications and Marketing.

Key Responsibilities

• Storytelling and Content Development: Identify, draft, and edit compelling stories that highlight the impact of health services research across AcademyHealth’s communications channels, including our existing channels such as our blog, website, newsletters, and Situation Report, as well as emerging channels such as Substack, podcasts, and videos.

• Media and Public Engagement: Support media relations and proactive outreach by drafting press releases, pitches, and statements; track media coverage and identify opportunities to amplify AcademyHealth’s work.

• Social Media Strategy and Management: Partner with the Digital Communications Manager to develop and schedule content for social media, monitor engagement, and evolve our strategy to reach broader audiences.

• Message Development and Campaign Support: Contribute to messaging frameworks and campaign plans that connect AcademyHealth’s policy, research, and advocacy priorities to real-world impact stories.

• Event Communications: Support promotion and coverage of key events, including the Annual Research Meeting and webinars, through live posts, interviews, and recaps.

• Website and Digital Updates: Make content updates and enhancements in Drupal CMS, as well as monitor and report on key digital metrics.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related field.
• 2-4 years of professional communications experience (experience in health, research, or policy communications preferred).
• Demonstrated success in creating engaging digital content and storytelling across platforms.
• Strong writing and editing skills with an ability to translate complex topics into clear, compelling language.
• Experience managing social media channels for an organization or campaign.
• Working knowledge of media relations practices and comfort engaging with reporters or external audiences.
• Familiarity with content management systems (Drupal or WordPress), social media scheduling tools, and analytics platforms (e.g., GA4, Sprout, Hootsuite, or similar).
• Highly organized, collaborative, and proactive, with strong attention to detail and an ability to manage projects and competing deadlines independently.
• Knowledge of the health policy and research landscape is highly desirable, but not required.

What You Will Gain:

• Experience developing and executing communications strategies in a mission-driven national organization.
• Opportunities to shape how AcademyHealth tells its story to policymakers, the media, and the public.
• Mentorship and exposure to senior communications and policy leaders.
• A portfolio of published work with national reach.

Salary: Hourly rate is $22 for a full-time 40-hour schedule.

Location: Washington, DC (Hybrid) or Remote

Position Type: Full-Time, Term-Limited Fellowship (6 months, with possible extension)

Applications: Qualified applicants should send a cover letter andresume, to Human Resources via email: jobs@academyhealth.org. Please be sure to reference the position for which you are applying. For more information, please go to www.academyhealth.org.