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.
Quarterly Topic
Quarterly Opinion
June 2026 Lawrence O. Gostin,
When I arrived in Geneva for the World Health Assembly in late May, the World Health Organization (WHO) was scrambling to contain two extremely… More
May 2026 Lawrence O. Gostin,
For more than three decades, I have worked alongside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during many of the world’s most consequential biological threats—from the containment of SARS-CoV-1 and the West African Ebola epidemic to the global responses to Zika and COVID-19. More
Quarterly Article
March 2026 Ilias Kyriopoulos, Dimitrios Minos, Sotiris Vandoros, Elias Mossialos,
While public health research has examined the macro-level and structural determinants of health, the link between corruption and population health remains underexplored. More
February 2026 Mark L. Rosenberg, Lawrence O. Gostin,
In our bitterly partisan age, where science and public health are distrusted, even denigrated, there is a better part of America. More
May 2025 Lawrence O. Gostin, Alexandra Finch,
In a radio address on July 24, 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) coined the first “hundred days” as a measure of presidential effectiveness.… More
February 2025 Kristina Jenei,
The World Health Organization (WHO) Model Lists of Essential Medicines (EML) aims to help countries select medicines based on the priority needs of their populations. However, rapid evolution within the pharmaceutical sector toward complex, high-priced medicines has challenged WHO decision making, leading to inconsistent decisions. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how political factors impact the WHO EML. More
December 2024 Lawrence O. Gostin, Alexandra Finch, Adi Radhakrishnan, Eric A. Friedman,
In every major global health milestone in our lifetimes, the United States has been at the forefront—from smallpox eradication in 1980 and the… More
February 2024 Jonathan C. Heller, Marjory L. Givens, Sheri P. Johnson, David A. Kindig,
When the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Commission on the Social Determinants of Health (CSDH) published their framework for the social… More
April 2023 Lawrence O. Gostin, Eric A. Friedman, Alexandra Finch,
The United Nations (UN) created the World Health Organization (WHO) as its first specialized agency out of the ruins and atrocities of World War II.… More
May 2020 Lawrence O. Gostin, Sarah Wetter,
On April 14, 2020, President Trump announced the suspension of funding for the World Health Organization (WHO) for 60 to 90 days to investigate… More