The Kaiser Media Mini-Fellowships in Health for 1997-2001

Prior to 2003, travel and research grants were awarded to print and broadcast journalists and editors to report on health policy and public health issues for publication/broadcast. For details of the mini-fellowship awards for 1997-2001, see below.

  • Click here to see Mini-Fellows’ Work

    Fourteen journalists were awarded Kaiser Media Mini-Fellowships in 2001/2002, to research and report on the following issues:

    Constance Alexander, freelance writer and independent producer, WKMS-FM:

      End-of-life issues in rural western Kentucky.

    Jenni Bergal, reporter, The Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, FL:

    Jill Brown, managing editor, Managed Care Week:

      Converting Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans to for-profit companies, and the implications for enrollees.

    Dudley Clendinen, author:

      Growing old in America: life in a geriatric high-rise, a microcosm of coping with the new old age, on the shore of Tampa Bay.

    Mary Coffman, co-director, Medill News Service, Washington, D.C.:

      The impact of direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs.

    Barbara Feder, medical reporter, The San Jose Mercury News:

      The search for a viable microbicide-the politics, policy, research, and ethical issues surrounding clinical trials.

    Jean Fisher, health/business writer, The News & Observer, Raleigh, NC:

      The impact of managed care on academic medical centers.

    Susan Thom Loubet, public radio host, KUNM/Radio, New Mexico:

      Healthcare outreach efforts to special populations in New Mexico – how well do they work?

    Camille Mojica Rey, freelance writer:

      Changing the way Americans eat and exercise, with a focus on communities of color.

    Ann Pappert, freelance writer:

      Healthcare after welfare reform-the experience of residents in an inner-city New York neighborhood.

    Tom Paulson, science/medical reporter, and Mike Urban, photographer, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

      Efforts to tackle global health challenges, and transform the health status of communities worldwide.

    Julie Reynolds, editor, El Andar magazine:

      The impact of AIDS among migrant workers in California, and in their hometowns in Mexico.

    Stephen Smith, managing editor and correspondent, American RadioWorks, Minnesota Public Radio:

      The Cuban health care system.

    Jamie Stobie, public television documentary producer:

      How technological advances are being used and adapted by people with disabilities.

    Ten journalists were awarded Kaiser Media Mini-Fellowships in 2000/2001, to research and report on the following issues:

    David Barry, freelance health writer:

      The methamphetamine epidemic in California–its manufacture, distribution and toxic waste

    Karen Brown, health and general assignment reporter, WFCR-FM public radio, Amherst, MA:

    Elena De La Cruz, features writer, La Opinion, Los Angeles:

    Tamara Hill, medical/news reporter, Corpus Christi Caller-Times, TX:

      Diabetes, with special focus on children, Hispanics and African Americans

    Karen Houppert, freelance writer:

      The U.S. military health care system, military hospitals and military medical policy, and the transition to TriCare

    Beatrice Motamedi, freelance writer and editor:

      The men of Martin Luther Way-improving healthcare access, outcomes and life expectancy among African-American men in a low-income neighborhood in Berkeley

    Elizabeth Neus, national reporter, medical/health care policy, Gannett News Service, Washington D.C:

      Organ transplantation–organ allocation and distribution, media coverage and political decision-making

    DeShong Perry, producer, KPNX-TV/Phoenix, AZ:

      Child safety issues, focused initially on water accidents and drowning

    Jane West, freelance television documentary and feature producer:

      The quality and delivery of mental health services to refugees and people traumatized by disaster.

    Eric Whitney, independent radio producer:

      The Centers for Disease Control-projects to improve global public health

    Twelve journalists were awarded Kaiser/National Press Foundation Media Mini-Fellowships in 1999/2000, to research and report on the following issues:

    Cassie M. Chew, health care reporter, Bureau of National Affairs, Inc.:

      The development of online health information websites and online pharmacies-their content, audiences and implications for the health care system.

    Dan Collison, independent radio and television documentary producer:

    David Hanners, investigative reporter, The St. Paul Pioneer Press:

      Insights from the Minnesota Tobacco Documents depository into the tobacco industry’s marketing and lobbying activities.

    Tom Jennings, independent documentary producer:

      Medical privacy issues-balancing confidentiality of patients’ medical records with treatment outcomes research to improve the overall quality of health care.

    Susan Leffler, independent special projects producer, West Virginia Public Radio Network:

    Sharon Lerner, reporter and columnist, The Village Voice:

      Sex education in schools, and federal funding for abstinence-only education programs.

    Click here to see Sharon Lerner’s work.Julia Lobaco, national editor, Vista magazine:

      Hispanic health issues-providing accessible health care and prevention information for Hispanic audiences.

    David Nather, health care reporter, Bureau of National Affairs, Inc.:

      Can managed care handle the challenge of caring for people with disabilities?

    Dmae Roberts, independent documentary public radio producer:

      Teen mental health, from a teen perspective-depression, anxiety, suicide, violence, anger, and the effects on families, insurance coverage, incarceration, counseling.

    Sabin Russell, reporter, The San Francisco Chronicle:

      U.S. trade policies on pharmaceuticals, and their impact on South Africa’s efforts to access AIDS drugs.

    Sally Squires, reporter, Health Section, The Washington Post:

      Using television to inform children about public health issues.

    Bill Zeeble, reporter, KERA-FM Radio, Dallas:


    Ten journalists were awarded Kaiser/National Press Foundation Media Mini-Fellowships in 1998/99, to research and report on the following issues:

    Lori Bergen, public television producer, Kansas Public Television:

      Access to health care in rural communities in Kansas

    Bill Lichtenstein, producer, The Infinite Mind public radio series, New York City:

      Caring for the mentally ill in the community: what happens when a state mental hospital closes

    Andy Miller, health/business reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

      Enrollment in Medicare and Medicaid HMOs: a comparative look at the experiences of patients and providers in different states

    Duncan Moore, reporter, Modern Healthcare:

      The decline of the staff-model HMO: why did this model of delivering care fail?

    Ann Pappert, freelance health and medical journalist, New York City:

      Insurance access and coverage problems, and the impact on the healthcare women receive

    Mary Beth Pfeiffer, projects editor, The Poughkeepsie Journal:

      Efforts to prevent the high incidence of car accidents involving teen drivers

    Mario Rossilli, reporter, The Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, FL:

      New HIV/AIDS drugs and their impact on treatment, access and financing issues

    Terri Russell, medical reporter, KOLO-8 Television/Reno, Nevada:

      Legalizing the medical usage of marijuana

    Eric Schoch, science and technology writer, The Indianapolis Star and News:

      The impact of genomics and genetic testing on the quality and availability of health care and public health in the U.S.

    Eric Whitney, associate producer, High Plains News Service, Montana:

      The understanding and treatment of mental illness, focused on the rural West

    Ten journalists were awarded Kaiser/National Press Foundation Media Mini-Fellowships in 1997/98, to research and report onthe following issues:

    Julie Appleby, health/business reporter, Contra Costa Times

      How is cost cutting affecting emergency care?

    Rea Blakey, health reporter, WJLA-7 Television/Washington, D.C.

      Scientific research into the efficacy of alternative medicine and alternative therapies

    Ariana Cha, public health/race and demographics reporter, The San Jose Mercury News

      The participation of minorities, women and children in clinical drug trials and medical research

    Debi Chard, health and medical reporter, WCSC-5 Television/Charleston, South Carolina

      The uninsured and under-insured in South Carolina, and the implications of lacking health insurance on the health care they receive

    Andrew Finlayson, associate news director, KTVU-2 Television/San Francisco and Oakland

      Local health departments in the Bay Area–what is their role, and are they adequately staffed and financed to deal with the key health challenges they face today?

    Joel Kaplan, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University, New York

      Mental health treatment and services–the impact of welfare reform, budget cuts and HMOs on the mental health care and benefits low and moderate income people receive

    Medill News Service, (radio and television), Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University

      Skin cancer–how dangerous and how preventable?

    Sue Reinert, business/health reporter, The Patriot Ledger

      The implications of for-profit companies competing with the American Red Cross to provide blood and blood components to hospitals and patients

    Terri Russell, medical reporter, KOLO-8 Television/Reno, Nevada

      Domestic violence and its impact on health care delivery and training

    Stephen Smith, senior producer/national projects, Minnesota Public Radio

      Infertility treatments and new birth technologies–the ethical, social, personal and financial issues involved

    The Kaiser Family Foundation, which funds the Media Mini-Fellowships Program, is an independent health care foundation and is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente or Kaiser Industries.

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