New data shows increase in uninsured Americans
The U.S. Census Bureau reported last week that 45 million Americans did not have health insurance in 2003, an increase of 1.4 million from 2002. The percentage of uninsured children remained at 11.4 percent, or 8.4 million children. The report, "Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2003" also found that the percentage of Americans covered by government health insurance programs rose from 25.7 percent to 26.6 percent, mostly as the result of increases in Medicaid and Medicare coverage. While the rate of uninsured people among minority groups remained unchanged, the uninsured rate fro non-Hispanic white people increased from 10.7 percent to 11.1 percent. For more information, visit the Census report by clicking here.

NIH fellowship program seeks applicants
The National Institutes of Health Fogarty International Center is seeking applications for a program that offers one-year clinical research training experiences for graduate-level students in the health professions. The program is managed by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the Association of Schools of Public Health, with support from the Ellison Medical Foundation. The fellowship program provides U.S. students the opportunity to experience mentored research training at NIH-funded research centers in developing countries, such as Bangladesh, Botswana, Haiti, India, Mali, Peru, South Africa and Thailand. Applications for the one-year term beginning July 2005 are now available; the deadline is Jan. 7. For more information, visit http://www.aamc.org/overseasfellowship.