Meet the 2025 Health Journalism Fellows

AHCJ is excited to announce the 2025 Health Journalism fellows. This group is a dynamic and diverse mix of passionate and dedicated journalists committed to illuminating the complexities of health care in today's world.

This year, more than 85 fellows will receive registration, travel support and lodging to attend the Health Journalism 2025 conference in Los Angeles May 29 - June 1.

With philanthropic support, AHCJ is able to help journalists across the country attend the annual conference, providing one of the most direct and extensive professional development opportunities in the industry. Not only do these fellowships assist journalists who otherwise might not have access to the latest resources and experts, they also provide a sense of community and belonging - things that are imperative to retaining journalists in the field and ensuring the long term sustainability of the industry.

Additionally, the yearlong Reporting Fellowships on Health Care Performance, the Firearm Violence Reporting Fellowship and the Uncovering Pathways to Better Health Fellowship provide conference attendance support.

Thanks to our supporters for making these fellowships possible: Anchorum Health Foundation, California Health Care Foundation, Commonwealth Fund, Connecticut Health Foundation, Doris Duke Foundation, Episcopal Health Foundation, Headwaters Foundation, Health Forward Foundation, Health Foundation for Western & Central New York, The Joyce Foundation, Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, The Kresge Foundation, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, the Medical College of Wisconsin, Methodist Healthcare Ministries, Rhode Island Foundation and St. David's Foundation.

AMERICAN CITIES HEALTH JOURNALISM FELLOWSHIP

• Ethan Bakuli, Planet Detroit
• Andrea Collier, independent journalist
• Sharon Donovan, independent journalist
• Kristen Hwang, CalMatters
• Katti Gray, independent journalist
• Alex Lubben, The Times-Picayune
• Maria G. Ortiz-Briones, Vida en el Valle
• Michal Ruprecht, independent journalist
• Jocelyn Wiener, CalMatters
• Emily Woodruff, The Times-Picayune, The New Orleans Advocate

CALIFORNIA HEALTH JOURNALISM FELLOWSHIP

• Vivian Aguilar, Central Valley Journalism Collaborative
• Emily Bazar, independent journalist
• Ana B. Ibarra, CalMatters
• Kara Meyberg Guzman, Santa Cruz Local
• Lesley McClurg, KQED
• Paul Sisson, The San Diego Union-Tribune
• Heidi de Marco, KPBS
• Elizabeth Moss, AfroLA
• Magaly Muñoz, UC Berkeley/Oakland Post
• Gladys Vargas, UC Berkeley

CONNECTICUT HEALTH JOURNALISM FELLOWSHIP

• Cheryl Platzman Weinstock, KFF Health News
• Theresa Sullivan Barger, independent journalist

EQUITY IN HEALTH JOURNALISM FELLOWSHIP

• Nik Altenberg, Santa Cruz Local
• Taylor Blatchford, The Seattle Times
• Emily Brindley, Dallas Morning News
• Julia Metraux, Mother Jones
• Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez, KFF Health News
• Kena Shah, independent journalist
• Natalie Skowlund, independent journalist
• Shernay Williams, independent journalist

FREELANCE HEALTH JOURNALISM TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIP

Through the use of repatriated international royalties from its membership in the Authors Coalition of America , AHCJ is able to provide assistance to freelance journalists wishing to attend the annual conference.

• Celeste Hamilton Dennis, independent journalist
• Lindsey Leake, independent journalist
• David Levine, independent journalist
• Reyna Gobel, independent journalist
• Yanick Rice Lamb, FierceforBlackWomen.com, BeltMag.com, TheRoot.com
• Alice Sun, independent journalist
• Michael Schroeder, independent journalist
• Liz Szabo, independent journalist
• Helina Selemon, independent journalist

KANSAS-MISSOURI HEALTH JOURNALISM FELLOWSHIP

• Meg Cunningham, The Beacon Kansas City
• Bonita Gooch, The Community Voice
• Rachel Murphy, independent journalist
• Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga, Kansas News Service and KCUR

MONTANA HEALTH JOURNALISM FELLOWSHIP

• Aaron Bolton, Montana Public Radio
• Zoë Buhrmaster, Flathead Beacon
• Arren Kimbel-Sannit, the Pulp

NEW MEXICO HEALTH JOURNALISM FELLOWSHIP

• Karen Fischer, independent journalist
• Margaret O'Hara, Santa Fe New Mexican

NEW YORK HEALTH JOURNALISM FELLOWSHIP

• Tracey Drury, Buffalo Business First/American City Business Journals
• Antonio Flores Villalobos, Radio Kingston
• Jon Harris, The Buffalo News
• Nicole Ortiz, Morning Brew
• Emyle Watkins, WBFO

NORTH CAROLINA HEALTH JOURNALISM FELLOWSHIP

• Grace Hayba, WRAL
• Rose Hoban, NC Health News
• Luciana Perez Uribe,The News & Observer

RHODE ISLAND HEALTH JOURNALISM FELLOWSHIP

• Lynn Arditi, The Public's Radio/R.I. PBS
• Vishal Khetpal, Brown University
• Jonny Williams, The Providence Journal

TEXAS HEALTH JOURNALISM FELLOWSHIP

• Rachel Fairbank, independent journalist
• Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star Telegram
• Gina Jiménez, Public Health Watch
• Michele Meyer, PracticeLink and Memorial Hermann Health System
• McKenna Oxenden, independent journalist
• Christian von Preysing, KRGV-TV
• Kayt Sukel, independent journalist
• Nicole Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman
• Raquel Villatoro, Tyler Morning Telegraph
• Sandy West, independent journalist

• Cat Carroll, independent journalist
• Addie Costello, Wisconsin Public Radio
• Natalie Eilbert, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
• Jennifer L.W. Fink, independent journalist
• Tamia Fowlkes, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• Steven Potter, PBS Wisconsin
• ​​Laura Schulte, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• Sarah Volpenhein, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• David Wahlberg, Wisconsin State Journal
• Cassandra Willyard, independent journalist