SciFri Producer Kathleen Davis Named JAWS 2026 Health Journalism Fellow
New York, NY, January 20, 2026 — The Science Friday Initiative is proud to announce that Producer Kathleen Davis has been named a JAWS 2026 Health Journalism Fellow. Journalism and Women Symposium (JAWS), a premier not-for-profit organization dedicated to professional growth and empowerment of women journalists, has awarded the 2026 JAWS Health Journalism Fellowship to eight new and emerging health reporters who will examine disparities and inequities in U.S. health care.
With critical support from the Commonwealth Fund, the fellowship is in its fourth year. The goal of the fellowship is to train more journalists in health reporting and help diversify the journalist pool for better and more inclusive reporting on health issues across the nation.
Davis was awarded for reporting to explore what scientists are learning about microplastic exposure during pregnancy and fetal development, and where babies are most vulnerable to microplastics.
“Receiving this fellowship is a great accomplishment. As a Science Friday producer, I’ve been lucky to report on many different topics, but I’m interested in digging deeper into the health component of environmental, tech, and other science stories,” Davis said. “I’m inspired by how health equity reporting can enact real change, through awareness and sometimes policy. I feel there’s an opportunity to elevate microplastics and our health to the forefront of people’s minds, while giving attention to the nuances within the topic. This fellowship will give me the resources to spend time outside of my core job responsibilities to dig deep into this topic, and also fund travel to research labs if appropriate for the story.”
About Science Friday: Science Friday’s mission is to increase public access to science and scientific information. For more than 30 years, Science Friday has produced award-winning science news programming that engages millions of people each week. Our flagship podcast and radio show, available on all podcast platforms and broadcast on more than 500 public radio stations, connects listeners with leading experts, leans into the joy of discovery, and helps people make sense of our world. Learn more at ScienceFriday.com.
About the JAWS Health Journalism Fellowship: The fellowship includes a reporting grant to cover project-related time and expenses, along with ongoing mentoring from two experienced health journalists: Naseem Miller, senior health reporter with The Journalist’s Resource, and Bara Vaida, an independent health journalist based in Washington, D.C.
Fellows were selected from a pool of diverse applicants based on their knowledge and depth of understanding of their proposal topic, the proposed project’s contribution to public discussion and debate, its potential impact on the intended audience, challenges to conventions or stereotypes, and their ability to meet high journalistic standards.