Engaging in Health Policy Decision Making
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On January 6-7, 2026, seven SPHHS graduate students got a rare peek behind the curtains to witness the inner workings of state government and how legislators engage in health policy decision-making in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The group gained this extraordinary access through the Annual Student Forum, organized by the Philip W. Johnston Massachusetts Health Policy Forum at Brandeis University. The annual forum provides advanced graduate students in public health, medicine and health policy direct access to meet with the senior legislative and state administrative officials to discuss the operations and responsibilities of state government. This is generally done in the context of pressing contemporary issues.
“The students were enthusiastic about what they learned over two very full days,” notes Mariana Chilton, Professor of Practice in the Department of Nutrition, and the faculty sponsor of the excursion, which the SPHHS sponsors annually. “They were energized and excited to be there.”
This year’s students – Hannah Rose Beckman, Matty Lavalley, Nana Ama Wilson, Christa Bizimana, Finn Shelp-Peck, Lily Bialkin, and Heligerta Zela – represented a range of departments including Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Environmental Health Sciences, Health Promotion and Policy, and Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences.
"This forum was incredibly educational,” says Shelp-Peck, a doctoral student in community health education. “I appreciated the range of speakers and how dedicated each one was. It was also great to speak with a few of the presenters after their presentations and have more intimate conversations. This left me quite excited about pursuing health policy work in Massachusetts and nationally."
“It was inspiring to hear from a range of public servants who are passionate about their work,” adds Bizimana, a doctoral student in epidemiology. “The forum allowed me to glimpse the complexity of healthcare financing, which calls for, as Senator Friedman emphasized, the art of legislation and requires truly listening to those with diverging points of view and interests in order to meet them where they are. She also reminded us of the importance of persistence, stating that in politics, ‘if there is a will, there is a way.’”
The two-day event included an introduction on health policy in the legislature; panel discussions on the legislative process, social determinants of health, and lobbyist advocacy; and visits to the State House, the Office of Health and Human Services, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission. Speakers included State Senator Cindy F. Friedman, Chair, Joint Committee on Health Care Financing; Kiame Mahaniah; Secretary, Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services; Audrey Morse Gasteier, Executive Director, Massachusetts Health Connector; Robbie Goldstein, MD, Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Public Health; and David Seltz, Executive Director, Health Policy Commission, among many other notable guests.
"I believe that individuals interested in public health careers in policy should have opportunities, like this one, to interact with individuals like the researchers, physicians, bill writers, lobbyists, and other partners to learn more about the healthcare system in Massachusetts,” says Bialkin, a 2nd year MPH student in epidemiology. “Having this forum for students is an amazing [way] for them to be able to disseminate ideas throughout the country and ideally improve health and the healthcare system for all throughout the US.”
“The forum made me think seriously about pursuing public service in the future,” adds Bizimana. “I was especially encouraged by the words of Dr. Mahaniah, who urged us to view leadership as service and to consider stepping into leadership roles, especially when we don’t naturally want to, even if only for a short time. He reminded us that even as students, we have the power to create positive change in our community, and we should use that power thoughtfully and well.”