2024-2025 Winston Fellows
Jack Pitsor, MPP
Duke University
Jack Pitsor attended Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy, graduating with his Master of Public Policy. He was also a Duke-Margolis Health Policy Scholar and a 2023 David A. Winston Health Policy Scholar. In addition to his studies, Jack worked as a Medicaid Fellow at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, working on Medicaid expansion implementation and Medicaid state plan amendment approvals. Before Duke, he worked as a health policy associate at the National Conference of State Legislatures in Denver, Colorado, providing technical assistance to state legislators and staff across all 50 states on various health costs and coverage issues. Jack received his B.S. in health administration and policy in 2018 from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. His policy interests include Medicaid, healthcare cost containment, medical debt, rural health, and much more.
I am excited and humbled to be selected as a 2024-2025 David A. Winston Fellow. Building on my background in state health policy, the Fellowship will provide an unparalleled opportunity to jump into the federal policymaking process and learn from so many talented and smart health policy professionals. I feel immense appreciation for Winston Board for the opportunity and my many mentors who helped cultivate my passion for health policy.
Samuel Avila, MPH
The George Washington University
Sam attended the Milken Institute School of Public Health at The George Washington University and graduated this spring with his Master of Public Health. While at GW, Sam worked at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) as the Program Associate for Marketplace Policy. Sam received his Bachelor of Arts in Public Health and Political Science from Roger Williams University. His policy interests include health equity, mental/behavioral health, HIV policy, and dismantling health disparities through policymaking.
I am honored and thrilled to be selected as one of the 2024-2025 David A. Winston Health Policy Fellows! Proudly coming from a family of Guatemalan immigrants, my lived experiences have pushed me towards a career in health policy and I am so thankful that the Board has decided to invest in my budding career through this Fellowship. I am looking forward to the numerous opportunities that the Fellowship will provide to learn from leading health policy experts and continue my professional growth.
Fellowship
The Fellowship provides the opportunity to expand your knowledge of health policy-making though firsthand, direct exposure to both public and private sector decision makers in Washington, DC.
Scholarship
The Winston Scholarship program recognizes excellence and achievement for students in master's degree programs with a focus on health policy.
Symposium
Winston Scholars join a one-day symposium on health policy in Washington, DC each year.
…I hope that everyone involved with this fellowship realizes what a wonderful legacy you have created in honor of David Winston…. The Winston Fellowship will generate the next generation of health policy experts, and I will always be proud to say I was a Winston Fellow.
The Fellowship was a wonderful opportunity that provided unparalleled access to health policy experts. Every day of my one-year stint, I met with individuals from the top of their field and learned about the nuances of the issues from them. The Fellowship continues to be a resource and asset for my career in health policy.