The Fund supports networks of state health policy decision makers to help identify, inspire, and inform policy leaders.
The Milbank Memorial Fund supports two state leadership programs for legislative and executive branch state government officials committed to improving population health.
The Fund identifies and shares policy ideas and analysis to advance state health leadership, strong primary care, and sustainable health care costs.
Keep up with news and updates from the Milbank Memorial Fund. And read the latest posts from our staff and guest authors.
The Fund publishes The Milbank Quarterly, as well as reports, issues briefs, and case studies on topics important to health policy leaders.
The Milbank Memorial Fund is is a foundation that works to improve population health and health equity.
August 27, 2026
News Article
Sofia Espinosa
Jun 26, 2026
Jun 17, 2026
Jun 16, 2026
Back to News Articles
Improving health outcomes through gubernatorial transitions and amid significant federal and state changes to health and human services policies will increasingly rely on exceptional state leadership. Each year, the Milbank Memorial Fund invests in the development of state and large city/county leaders who are committed to improving population health through its two nonpartisan legislative and executive branch leadership programs.
Today, Milbank announces the members of the 2026-27 Emerging Leaders and Milbank Fellows cohorts. The current cohorts include state senators and representatives, agency commissioners and secretaries, division directors, chief medical officers, and state epidemiologists. Cohort members come from 28 states and include 30 members of the executive branch and 20 legislators balanced across political parties. The Milbank Fellows Program (MFP) and Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) have given more than 350 participants leadership and policy skills to implement evidence-based policy across state and party lines.
“These leadership classes, which are highly representative in terms of geography, background, and political perspective, demonstrate both the expertise and growth mindset needed to help pass and implement policies that can improve health in today’s politically polarized environment,” said Morgan McDonald, MD, Milbank’s National Director for Population Health.
Throughout the program and long afterward, participants connect with colleagues across the political and geographic spectrum in meaningful ways. They have also leveraged the program to advance priorities like maternal health initiatives in Kentucky; community health worker certification in Mississippi; and improved prescription drug price transparency in Illinois. Participants have also helped change or stop policies that are wasteful or harmful to population health as a result of the program.
Independent evaluations of the programs find that they empower participants to introduce legislation, implement evidence-based programs, and cultivate relationships across parties, branches of government, and states. Nearly all (93%) of MFP and ELP graduate survey respondents agreed that the program equipped them with skills for depolarization that assist with effective policy implementation.
Now in its sixth year, MFP is designed for senior executive branch and legislative state leaders. ELP, now in its tenth year, engages early and mid-career legislative and executive branch state and large-county government officials. ELP is facilitated in partnership with nationally recognized academic and leadership consultant Rich Callahan. Both programs focus on professional and personal growth, leadership skills, best practices from health and leadership experts, and the development of a network of colleagues from across the country.
Congratulations to the members of this year’s cohorts for both MFP and ELP, who are listed below.
