The Fund supports networks of state health policy decision makers to help identify, inspire, and inform policy leaders.
A bipartisan group of state health policymakers from both the executive and legislative branches who are focused on improving population health.
Networks of state officials, advocates, and others aiming to invest in and transform primary care.
A program dedicated to advancing state-based efforts to make health care more affordable for residents, employers, and states.
The Milbank Memorial Fund supports two state leadership programs for legislative and executive branch state government officials committed to improving population health.
A leadership development program for early and mid-career state government officials who are committed to improving the health of all people in their communities.
A leadership program for senior state government officials who are committed to improving population health.
The Fund focuses on creating an affordable health care system built on strong primary care and partnerships that improve health outcomes for all.
Improving state leaders’ ability to enact and implement evidence-based health policies.
Advancing policies that create a more prevention- and primary care-oriented health system.
Improving population health through policies that contain health care cost growth.
Our state health policy resources offer relevant data analysis and best practices.
The Fund publishes reports, issues briefs, and case studies on state health policy issues.
Short takes on health policy issues from Milbank staff and guest authors.
Insights from Milbank President Debra Lubar on state health policymaking.
Reported articles and Q&As on timely health policy issues, as well as foundation updates.
Milbank Memorial Fund and Milbank Quarterly webinars featuring state health policymakers and researchers.
Updates and expert contact information for reporters.
The Milbank Memorial Fund is a private foundation that works to improve population health and health equity.
June 5, 2026
News Article
Alan B. Cohen
Tara Strome
Sep 14, 2026
Aug 27, 2026
Jun 26, 2026
Back to News Articles
It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of David Rosner, an esteemed member of The Milbank Quarterly’s Editorial Advisory Board and a long-time contributor and friend of the Milbank Memorial Fund.
Many have written about David’s contributions as a leading historian of public health. As a Professor at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, David dedicated his career to uncovering the human impact of environmental and occupational harms and played a large role in developing a field of occupational and environmental history that has helped shaped public understanding of the health consequences of industrial production.
The Milbank Memorial Fund was proud to copublish with the UC Press two books that David coauthored with his long-time collaborator Gerald Markowitz. Deceit and Denial, published in 2002, details attempts by the chemical and lead industries to deceive the American public about the harms of their products to workers, consumers, and the public through groundbreaking historical research that included interviews and unprecedented access to industry documents. After publication, the Milbank Memorial Fund, UC Press, and peer reviewers of the manuscript were subpoenaed by lawyers for the chemical companies in an attempt to discredit the peer review process and create doubt about the accuracy of the book—one of many attacks on his work from industry that David faced. Lead Wars, published in 2013, examines the history of lead poisoning and highlights the dilemmas public health agencies face today in prevention of chronic illness linked to low levels of toxic lead exposure.
David also was a prolific Milbank Quarterly opinion contributor, with more than two dozen pieces published over the past decade on topics such as the role of citizen scientists in the Flint water crisis, the abundance of toxic chemicals in our everyday lives, and the use of legal action to abate lead paint hazards. His most recent piece, published in April of this year, documented how industry has manipulated institutions of science and medicine.
While David’s legacy lives on through the students he mentored and the lasting changes he brought to public health, we will miss his important and unique voice in our journal’s pages.