From the White Court to the White House: University of Utah Health Physician Joins Prestigious Fellowship Program

15:00 on September 14, 2022

Jeffrey Nadel, MD, MS, a neurosurgery resident at the University of Utah Health, has a broad range of biomedical research, from laboratory cell-translational brain research, clinical and health services research, global public health, health economics and policy. I have worked throughout.

But this fall, he ditched his lab coat, wore a press suit every day in Washington, DC the following year, and was named one of 15 people appointed by President Joe Biden to the 2022-2023 class of White House Fellows. play a role. .

“I am humbled to have been given the opportunity to serve as a White House Fellow,” Nader said. “I look forward to a year of growth through public service while gaining valuable leadership experience at the highest levels of federal government.”

The White House Fellowship is a nonpartisan leadership development program founded in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson to provide valuable first-hand experience for White House staff, Cabinet members, and other senior government officials.

While the primary objective is to gain experience working full-time at the highest level of federal government, the fellowship also maintains an important academic and educational dimension, offering twice-weekly formal meetings with national leaders. We are holding a seminar. Fellows also embark on domestic and international trips to study real U.S. policy.

For nearly 60 years, our wide-ranging fellows draw on their diverse backgrounds to enrich public policy research and development. Although many medical professionals have served, the group included only his four neurosurgeons, including his Sanjay K. Gupta, M.D., CNN’s chief medical correspondent.

A native of Centennial, Colorado, Nadel received a BS in Neuroscience with minors in Latin American Studies and Biochemistry as a Becher Scholar from the University of Colorado. He graduated from the University of Michigan with his M.D. and M.D. degrees, dean’s Meritorious Scholarship for his academic excellence and research excellence. He was also elected a member of the Alpha Omega His Alpha and Gold His Humanism Honor Society before starting his residency in 2019.

Nadel will spend the fourth year of his residency in Washington, DC, normally devoted to academic research, and will continue his residency next year without interruption. Nadel would like to thank William Couldwell, M.D., Ph.D., Director of Neurosurgery, and Randy Jensen, M.D., Ph.D., Vice Chair of Education and former director of her residency program at Utah Health University. increase. Target.

“Jeff is a highly valued and respected member of our residency program, so it is no surprise to our group that he has been selected as a White House Fellow for this great opportunity. It was,” says Jensen. “We know he will represent us in this elite role.

Nader chose to receive training at the University of Utah, believing that it would set him apart from others in the field. He notes that the spirit of camaraderie among the residency classes provides an excellent community to work and train. can find home.

Through research, Nadel is passionate about building a robust social infrastructure to close healthcare gaps and ensure equitable access. He has led health interventions nationally and internationally for vulnerable populations in the United States, Uganda and Costa Rica.

“I have served on a White House Fellowship at the Department of Veterans Affairs and serve the Secretary of Health and the Undersecretary of Health in their sacred mission to provide the best and fastest access to the highest quality health care for those who fought for the freedom of our country. We support both,” says Nadel.

Officially selected on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 after a year-long application process and multiple interviews. Nader was rubbed against a surgical case when a nurse told him the call came from the Washington, DC area code of 202.

“As someone who is rarely at a loss for words, this news took my breath away,” recalls Nadel. “What an amazing opportunity. I couldn’t be more grateful.”

This isn’t the first time Nader has interacted with politicians or lived in Washington, DC. Prior to medical school, Nadel worked as a health economics and policy researcher at the Brookings Institution, developing an interest in healthcare finance and policy. He also served as a Fellow of the NIH Academy on Health Disparities, gaining both didactic and practical experience in promoting health equity and social justice. Currently, Nadel serves on the Legislative Committee of the Utah Medical Association in addition to handling the physical and mental demands of a resident physician.

Public service has long been integral to Nadel’s vision of healthcare, and he sees this fellowship opportunity as another step towards his goal of improving equity in healthcare.

“As physicians, we have a unique opportunity to advance the principles of access and equity in healthcare, not just by working at the bedside, but through academic and civic pursuits,” says Nadel. “If anything, working in healthcare during a global pandemic has taught me that no one should be a bystander. We aim to hone our skills and serve our communities and country now and in the future.”

Learn more about the 2022-2023 White House Fellows class here.

– by Kamryn Broszynski