2027 Advocacy & Public Policy Leadership (APPL) Program Application

The AAP is now accepting applications for the 2027 APPL Class. (Scroll down to complete the application.)

APPL participants will attend a one-day pre-conference, plus relevant advocacy sessions, during three consecutive AAP Annual Meetings. (2027, 2028, and 2029 for the new class.) The group will also join the AAP Hill visits in Washington, DC (Scheduled for Fall) once during their time in the program. APPL is organized around one of three “themes” each year and will explore Legislative, Administration & Regulatory, and Patient Impact topics.

Candidates for the program must:

• Be an active member of the Association of Academic Physiatrists (AAP).
• Be full-time faculty members at an Instructor, Assistant Professor, or Associate Professor level
• Have a minimum of 5 years experience post-residency/ fellowship at the time of application
• Have demonstrated the desire and ability to assume an advocacy and public policy leadership role in their department, institution, or the specialty of physiatry
• Attend the APPL course during each of three consecutive AAP Annual Meetings
• Plan and complete a Health Advocacy Project on the topic presented at the AAP meeting. A presentation of the project will be due for the following year’s meeting.

Nomination materials:

• Candidates must be nominated by their PM&R academic department, division chair or chair equivalent. If the institution has no PM&R department or division, then a nomination can also come from a member of the AAP Board of Trustees or AAP Committee Chair in addition to their current Chair (non-PM&R). The nomination letter (1-2 pages) should discuss the candidate’s past achievements, current public policy and academic activities, and potential as a health policy advocate. Applications will not be considered without this nomination letter.
• Candidate’s current Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• A 500-word personal statement confirming the candidate’s public policy and academic career goals and desire to participate in this program

More information on the APPL Program.