Laura Hawks Selected for 2026 National Academy of Medicine Fellowship

Laura Hawks, MD, MPH, has been selected for the prestigious 2026 National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Fellowship to Advance State Health Policy, supported by the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment (AHW). Dr. Hawks, an associate professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine and associate director of the Center for Advancing Population Science at the Medical College of Wisconsin, is one of seven outstanding health professionals for the 2026 class of National Academy of Medicine (NAM) fellows.

The Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment launched its partnership with the National Academy of Medicine to support this two-year fellowship in 2022. Dr. Hawks is the third AHW-supported fellow to take advantage of this two-year program to advance state policy.

During the two-year fellowship, Dr. Hawks will collaborate with leading researchers, policy experts, and clinicians while contributing to the National Academies’ health and science policy work. She will also participate in initiatives convened by the National Academies to provide nonpartisan, evidence-based guidance to policymakers, academic leaders, health care administrators, and the public.

“The strength of the NAM begins with bringing the right people to the table — those with deep expertise, a commitment to service, and a willingness to work across disciplines to improve health,” said National Academy of Medicine President Monica M. Bertagnolli. “These seven fellows embody those qualities. I look forward to the perspectives they will bring to our work and to seeing how this experience helps them grow as leaders who can turn evidence into action for people and communities across the country.”

Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment Interim Executive Director Cheryl Maurana, PhD, said, “AHW’s support of the NAM Fellowship to Advance State Health Policy recognizes the importance of knowledge-sharing between health experts and the state’s policymakers. The Medical College of Wisconsin and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment are proud to build upon our strong relationships with Wisconsin lawmakers and government officials to advance policies that improve the lives of the people of Wisconsin.”

NAM fellows continue in their primary academic or research posts while engaging part time over a two-year period in the National Academies’ health and science policy work. They will also work with an expert study committee or roundtable related to their professional interests, including contributing to reports or other products. A flexible research grant is awarded to each fellow.