The Only Way Forward Is to Move 

I hate moving: Going through everything you own, boxing the good stuff, parting with big swaths of stuff, and then doing the whole thing in reverse when you get to the other side. Moving is consistently listed as one of life’s most stressful events, and I’ve moved five times this summer…

Well, not moved myself exactly. I moved one daughter into a summer dorm and then a fall dorm. I moved the other daughter into her first apartment, and then, when it flooded three months later, moved her out and into a whole new neighborhood in one exhausting weekend. I moved decades worth of possessions out of my aunt’s apartment after her death, trying to sort the treasure from the trash in an unfamiliar space. All were New York City moves, where large vehicles are tough to maneuver and even tougher to park. 

For those of us in government, this last year has been a lot like my moves. Just when you think you can start to settle, something new makes you move again, whether it’s a federal directive, a new initiative, or an emergency response. As the weather starts to cool, election season is heating up, with Congressional elections across the country and 36 governors being decided in November. That means more change for states, where some people will leave their posts, some will arrive, and many more career staff will be the consistent leaders who make the changeover work.

Both government transitions and moves across New York City boroughs raise similar questions: What work will you carefully pack up to keep it safe for the next leadership team? What is it time to let go? And what new things do you now have room for, or a need for, in the next chapter?

When I was the policy advisor to the Secretary of Health and Social Services in Delaware, I was one of those career leaders continuing through a gubernatorial transition. In fact, I was the ONLY continuing staff in the secretary’s office. The incoming secretary was very experienced in government leadership but had never worked in health or social services. The governor’s new health policy advisor was very experienced in politics but hadn’t worked in health either; her portfolio was daunting, including health plus several other big topics. 

That fall, I spent a lot of time preparing transition materials, highlighting what needed early attention, what was likely to be high on the legislature’s priority list for us, and what risks needed managing. I could have stopped there, but I took the chance of suggesting new policy opportunities. Some were great ideas that came too late in the previous administration, some hadn’t had the legislative support we needed, and some just weren’t priorities for the outgoing team. Being ready with ideas that might fit in a new policy space enabled me to contribute to an agenda that led to real improvements: a Patient’s Bill of Rights, strong clean indoor air legislation, and expanded investment in cancer prevention and treatment.

In this season of change, Milbank will be rolling out transition resources throughout the fall and winter, including practical tools and leadership strategies for those who are leaving, those who are staying, and those taking on new roles. We got started with two interviews by Milbank’s Morgan McDonald:

• Debra Farrington, Deputy Secretary for Health for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and a Milbank Fellows alum, discussed how her agency managed the transition to a new governor last year.  She emphasized identifying priorities, engaging with legislators, and documenting relationships with community partners, so that important initiatives are understood as shared commitments.
• Jeff Lunardi—then interim Medicaid director at Virginia’s Department of Medical Assistance Services (Cardinal Care) and a Milbank Emerging Leaders alum—shared practical lessons on prioritization, nonpartisan leadership, and agency stability during a gubernatorial handoff.

At Milbank, we are going through some changes of our own. For more than three decades, the Milbank Memorial Fund was known by its lion logo, designed by long-time Board Chair Tony Milbank. This month, we are unveiling a new logo designed to reflect the organization’s roles today as a connector and trusted source of evidence and inspiration for health leaders. Our outgoing lion leaves us a legacy of strength and courage that we continue to embrace. Please check out our new logo and explore our refreshed website!

Moving is stressful, and it’s the opening to make a new version of home. This time of transition opens new doors that we can walk through together. We look forward to walking with you.