Fellows

2022-2023

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  Mark Pearson

  State Representative, New Hampshire (R)

  In 2012, Representative Pearson was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives, where he serves as the chair of the Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee. Outside of the state legislature, he serves as the CEO of a wholistic medical center that brings together family practice medicine, counseling, massage, and patient and community […] More
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  Ralph Alvarado

  State Senator, Kentucky (R)

  Senator Alvarado was elected to the Kentucky State Senate in 2014 and is the first Hispanic member ever elected to the Kentucky General Assembly. He represents Kentucky’s 28th Senate district, which includes Fayette, Clark, and Montgomery counties. He serves as the chair of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee and on the Medicare Oversight Committee, […] More
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  Jonette Arms

  Assistant Administrator, Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services

  Ms. Arms provides direct oversight of the Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Health, Bureau of Community Health Promotion, Bureau of Aging and Disability Resources, and the Office of Policy Practice and Alignment. In addition, she is responsible for directing, coordinating, planning, monitoring, and evaluating the operational activities of division of public health, which include financial […] More
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  Fred Baldwin

  State Senator, Wyoming (R)

  Senator Baldwin has served in the Wyoming State Senate since 2017, representing District 14. He chairs the Labor, Health, and Social Services Committee and the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Committee. He is a practicing physician assistant and volunteer firefighter. More
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  Heather Borski

  Assistant Deputy Director of Community Health and Well-Being, Utah Department of Health and Human Services

  Ms. Borski is currently overseeing the recent merger of Utah’s Departments of Health and Human Services and is positioning health equity as a driving force in the agency’s mission. She has worked for the Department of Health for more than 26 years and has held a variety of leadership positions within the organization. More
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  Brooke Cunningham

  Assistant Commissioner for Health Equity, Minnesota Department of Health

  Ms. Cunningham is the first-ever assistant commissioner for health equity, reporting directly to the commissioner of health. She oversees and is expanding the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office, the Center for Health Equity, and the Office of American Indian Health. She aims to strengthen the agency’s ability to advance health equity across all department initiatives […] More
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  Jatin Dave

  Chief Medical Officer, MassHealth

  In dual medical leadership roles, Dr. Dave serves as the primary clinical liaison between MassHealth (Massachusetts Medicaid and CHIP) and Commonwealth Medicine, emphasizing the close working relationship between the organizations. As a chief medical officer, he provides medical, clinical, policy, and strategic oversight of all health care services for MassHealth members and represents the program […] More
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  Debra Farrington

  Deputy Secretary and Chief Health Equity Officer, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Service

  In this newly created position, Ms. Farrington focuses on addressing health disparities and the health needs of North Carolina’s most vulnerable citizens. More
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  Laura Fine

  State Senator, Illinois (D)

  Senator Fine is a state senator of the 9th district, which encompasses Chicago’s Northern suburbs. She serves as the chair of the Behavioral and Mental Health Committee and is a member of the Appropriation-Human Services, Environment and Conservation, Health Access and Availability, and Insurance committees. Prior to serving in the Senate, Senator Fine served as […] More
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  Sara Gelser Blouin

  State Senator, Oregon (D)

  Senator Gelser Blouin has served in the Oregon legislature since 2005 and currently chairs the Senate Committee on Human Services, Mental Health and Recovery. She entered public service through the disability community and is an advocate for full inclusion of people with disabilities in education, the workforce, housing, and community. In 2009, she was appointed […] More
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  Morissa Henn

  Associate Commissioner, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

  Dr. Henn leads cross-cutting efforts across the state and department to integrate and improve services to help families and communities flourish. With direct oversight over three of the state’s most complex systems serving vulnerable individuals — child welfare (Division for Children, Youth and Families), public mental health and substance misuse (Division of Behavioral Health), and […] More
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  David Iseminger

  Director, Employees and Retirees Benefits Division, Washington State Health Care Authority

  Mr. Iseminger provides direction and support for long-term benefits strategy, benefit contracting efforts, and operations of Washington State’s Public Employees Benefits Board Program and School Employees Benefits Board Program. Together, the two programs have annual expenses of about $5 billion and cover over 700,000 Washingtonians who are employees and retirees (and their dependents) of school […] More
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  Monica Johnson

  Director, Division of Behavioral Health, Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities

  Ms. Johnson is responsible for leading a team of executive directors for the Offices of Adult Mental Health, Addictive Diseases, Children, Young Adults & Families, Deaf Services, Recovery, Prevention, Federal Grants and Culture Competency, and Statewide Field Operations & Crisis Coordination. She has over 25 years in the field and is a licensed professional counselor. More
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  Tonya Joiner

  Deputy Secretary, Louisiana Department of Health

  Ms. Joiner is the new Deputy Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, the state’s largest agency with a budget of $14 billion. She most recently served as chief of staff and under her leadership, the department implemented the first-ever health equity plan to ensure the department’s services are equitably accessible to the residents of […] More
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  Mark Lawson

  State Representative Oklahoma (R)

  Representative Lawson has served in the Oklahoma State House of Representatives since 2016. Currently, he serves as chairman for the Appropriations and Budget subcommittee for Human Services, which oversees 10% of the entire state budget. Additionally, he serves on the full Appropriations and Budget Committee and the standing committees on Government Efficiency and Children, Youth […] More
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  Morgan Medlock

  Commissioner, Behavioral Health Administration, State of Colorado

  Appointed by Governor Jared Polis, Ms. Medlock serves as a new member of the governor’s cabinet. She is a board-certified psychiatrist and addiction medicine specialist and is tasked with leading a holistic vision for the state’s behavioral health system. More
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  Breanca Merritt

  Chief Equity and ADA Officer, Indiana’s Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA)

  Ms. Meritt is the first FSSA Chief Health Equity and ADA Officer. In her role, she directs the agency’s Office of Healthy Opportunities, which was established to address social drivers of health for the millions of individuals eligible for the agency’s services. She is charged with implementing strategies to integrate equitable processes into program and […] More
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  Cassandra Pasley

  Chief of Staff, Florida Department of Health

  Appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis, Ms. Pasley oversees the daily operations for the department in the overall planning, direction, administration, and evaluation by interacting and engaging closely with employees, governmental agencies, and the public to identify issues and provide valuable solutions. She is indirectly responsible for more than 13,000 employees in the department, which includes […] More
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  Marcus Riccelli

  State Representative, Washington (D)

  Representative Riccelli was elected to the state legislature in 2012, and serves on the Health Care and Wellness Committee, which he vice-chaired for three years, as well as on the Capital Budget, Transportation, and Rules committees, and has served in the leadership role of Majority Whip since 2016. Outside his duties with the legislature, Marcus […] More
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  Dylan Roberts

  State Representative, Colorado (D)

  Representative Roberts represents District 26 in the Colorado House of Representatives, which encompasses Eagle and Routt Counties. Serving in this position since 2018, his work at the legislature has focused on lowering the cost of health care and prescription drugs, protecting our environment and water, finding ways to lower the cost of living, and promoting […] More
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  Ed Stafman

  State Representative, Montana (D)

  Representative Stafman has served in the Montana House of Representatives since 2021 and is the chair of the Children, Families, Health & Human Services Interim Committee, where he is working to build a consensus to address Montana’s mental health crisis and to create greater access to, and better quality, mental health care for Montanans, especially […] More
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  Matt Yancey

  Deputy Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

  As a top advisor to Commissioner Marie Williams, Mr. Yancey provides vision and oversight to all Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services community-based programs, including prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery support. More