Eligibility

This institute is open to current undergraduate and graduate students, post docs, and early career fellows (including executive branch fellows) in Medicine, Engineering, and Health Sciences interested in the public policy landscape shaping science, innovation, and discovery.

Program Description

This program explores how public policies shape medical and biological engineering. You will have the opportunity to hear from regulatory agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institute of Health (NIH). You will listen to policy experts and thought leaders explain the ramifications of proposed regulatory and policy initiatives. You will attend sessions taught by industry giants in the medical device and innovation sector. You will meet with government decision makers developing the public policies that govern patents, medical devices, pharma, and health and science legislation. You will network with early career participants in health and engineering across the nation.

By the end of the Institute, participants will be able to:

• • • Describe the current regulatory science framework and its role in the decision-making about the risks and benefits of medical products.
    • Describe federal health policy initiatives that shape research and funding decisions
    • Understand the role of the executive and legislative branches in developing policies governing the scientific enterprise
    • Identify hot button issues in regulatory policy and health policy
    • Identify the numerous stakeholders shaping public health in Washington, affecting the nation

Highlighted Sessions from Past Programs:

• • • The Role of Diplomacy in Science: Andrew Hebbeler, Ph.D., Deputy Director for Science and Technology Cooperation at U.S. Department of State
    • Vision for Regulatory Science at FDA: Ed Margerrison, Ph.D., Director, Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, FDA
    • The Role of Coalitions and Associations in the Policy Process: Tannaz Rasouli, MPH, Director of Public Policy and Strategic Outreach, Association of American Medical Colleges
    • A Look Inside Federal Government Careers for Scientists: Grace Peng, Ph.D., Director of Computational Modeling, Simulation and Analysis, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
    • Misuse or Subjugation of Science in Public Policy: Genna Reed, Lead Science and Policy Analyst, Center for Science and Democracy, Union of Concerned Scientists
    • Science Policy vs. Science for Policy: Tobin Smith, Vice President for Policy, Association of American Universities
    • Women’s Health, Health Policy, and the FDA: Susan Wood, Ph.D., Professor of Health Policy and Director, Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health, George Washington University
    • Policy Issues Facing the National Institutes of Health (NIH): Adrienne Hallett, Director of NIH Office for Legislative Policy & Analysis
    • Careers in Science Policy: Yvette Seger, Ph.D., Directory of Science Policy, Federal of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB)
    • Best Practices for Communicating with Congress: Emily Therese Cloyd, Center for Public Engagement with Science and Technology, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
    • What You Need to Know about Health Policy: Beth Linas, Ph.D., Department of Clinical Quality & Informatics, Health Technical Center, The MITRE Corporation

Registration

Space is extremely limited to encourage open discussion and networking. Registration will close once the event reaches capacity; early registration is encouraged to reserve your space. Registration is available at the top of the page.

Registration fees include breakfast and lunch for both days of the event, as well as a private tour of the U.S. Capitol.

Suggested Reading

Science Advocacy 101: Realizing the Benefits, Overcoming the Challenges

Travel Awards

The goal of the AIMBE travel award program is to increase access to the Public Policy Institute among individuals from racial and ethnic groups that have been shown by the National Science Foundation to be underrepresented in health-related sciences.

Deadline: September 29, 2025
Amount: Each awardee will be offered up to $800 to defray expenses associated with travel to the AIMBE Public Policy Institute.

Eligibility:

To qualify for consideration the applicant must:

• • • Hail from an AIMBE Academic Council Institution
    • Have not participated in AIMBE’s Public Policy Institute in prior years
    • Be enrolled as a full-time matriculating undergraduate or graduate student during the 2025-2026 academic year
    • Have elected medical or biological engineering as a primary educational concentration
    • Have a strong interest in learning about regulatory and public policies shaping medical innovation

Applicants who would meet the goals of the travel award program include:

• • • Individuals from racial and ethnic groups that have been shown by the National Science Foundation to be underrepresented in health-related sciences on a national basis: (Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders), as well as persons with disabilities and/or;
    • Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds that have been shown by the National Science Foundation to be underrepresented in health-related sciences on a national basis (see application form for details)
    • Have a strong interest in learning about regulatory and public policies shaping medical innovation

Application Procedures:

To apply for a URM Travel Award to attend the AIMBE Public Policy Institute, the following items are needed:

• • • Statement of interest addressing why you are interested in participating in the Institute (250-500 words)
    • One letter of recommendation from your advisor
    • A curriculum vitae (CV) or resume is optional but appreciated

Registration Procedures:

You may choose to wait to register for the event until you receive an update about the status of your travel award application. We will hold registration slots for travel awardees. However, if you do not receive a travel award and did not register in advance, registration may fill and you are not guaranteed a slot.

Meeting Location

American Institute of Physics (AIP)

555 12th Street NW, Suite 250

Washington, DC 20004

Hotel Information

AIMBE does not reserve a block of rooms for the Policy Institute. Listed below are several hotels near the meeting location, where the Institute will take place. 

Courtyard Washington Convention Center 
900 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004
Phone: (202) 638-4600

Renaissance Washington, DC
999 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 898-9000

Marriott Fairfield Inn & Suites
500 H St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 289-5959 

Cancellation/Refund Policy

Registration fees or tickets to AIMBE events may be cancelled and refunded no less than 30 days prior to the event date.

If AIMBE cancels an event, your registration will be credited or refunded.

Questions?

Contact Sarah Mandell, AIMBE Director of Public Policy and Strategic Partnerships

Program@aimbe.org