Linking health policy to people
This is one in a series of profiles showcasing some of Harvard’s stellar graduates. Last summer, Maia Fedyszyn learned that the nameless, faceless bureaucrats who run the federal Medicaid program aren’t so invisible after all. What’s more, they care deeply about the program and its impact on the public. Fedyszyn, who is receiving a master’s of science in public health from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), spent the summer at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. There, she developed a passion for health care policy, worked to develop Medicaid regulations, and reviewed some of the 500 public comments on drafted rules. The experience, Fedyszyn said, exposed her to the “nitty-gritty of policy work,” but also gave her an appreciation for the dedication of workers behind the scenes. “They read every single one” of the comments, “respond to some directly, and make changes based on them,” Fedyszyn said. “They’re really, really dedicated...