Jyoti Madhusoodanan selected as AHCJ’s first Civic Science Fellow

The yearlong role will focus on increasing awareness of racial bias in health research and clinical algorithms, and how that is communicated in health journalism.

The Association of Health Care Journalists (AHCJ) is excited to announce the selection of Jyoti Madhusoodanan as its 2024-2025 Civic Science Fellow focusing on Health Equity and Bias Awareness. The Fellowship is supported by the Doris Duke Foundation (DDF) and is part of the broader national Civic Science Fellows Program.

Madhusoodanan is an independent journalist with more than a decade of experience covering life sciences, health, biotech and STEM for publications like The New York Times, Scientific American, Nature and Undark.

She is on the board of directors for the National Association of Science Writers, is a mentor for The Open Notebook and received past fellowships from AHCJ, Knight Science Journalism at MIT and the Alicia Patterson Foundation.

"Health disparities are a product of many forms of bias," Madhusoodanan said. "More than simply reporting on bias and its fallout, I believe journalists can - with the right tools - drive solutions that lead to greater equity."

As the Civic Science Fellow at AHCJ, Madhusoodanan will focus on increasing journalists' awareness of racial bias in health research and how that is communicated in health journalism. She will highlight the patient impact of bias in health research through storytelling and create educational resources for journalists on the topic.

"We're excited to welcome Jyoti to AHCJ's team for the next year as she dives into this important and very complex topic," said Kelsey Ryan, AHCJ's executive director.

"This issue is critical because it directly impacts health outcomes for everyone. In particular, clinical algorithms - often used to guide treatment decisions - incorporate factors like race alongside medical data. But many algorithms are flawed and can perpetuate disparities in care. This fellowship will tackle this issue head-on, educating journalists on how to better uncover biases and understand how these complicated algorithms work, while also amplifying the voices of those impacted."

Sindy Escobar Alvarez, Ph.D., program director for medical research at the Doris Duke Foundation, went further to say: "We are delighted by AHCJ's appointment of Jyoti Madhusoodanan as a Doris Duke Racial Equity in Clinical Equations Civic Science Fellow. Her proven expertise and commitment to equity in science and health journalism are crucial for promoting necessary changes in how racial factors are integrated into medical research and clinical practice."

The Association of Health Care Journalists is an independent, nonprofit professional journalism association dedicated to advancing public understanding of health care issues. We work with thousands of journalists each year to improve the quality, accuracy and visibility of health care reporting and editing internationally.

The mission of the Doris Duke Foundation (DDF) is to build a more creative, equitable and sustainable future by investing in artists and the performing arts, environmental conservation, medical research, child well-being and greater mutual understanding among diverse communities.

The Civic Science Fellows Program is building a network of leaders committed to ensuring that all people shape and benefit from science, technology, and innovation. The Program brings together scientists, scholars, community leaders, journalists, educators, media producers, public-interest organizations, and funders to seed new collaborations between science, diverse communities, and civil society. Envisioned as a Civic Science Lab, Fellows and the organizations that host them carry out pioneering work to co-create pilots, partnerships, knowledge, models, and new ways of working. Fellows and partners engage as part of a network of learning and action that spans organizations, disciplines, and communities - a growing effort to catalyze civic science culture change.

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