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
October 2025 Joshua M. Sharfstein,
If repetition is the mother of learning, then I am learning that the second Trump administration likes to use the term “gold standard science.” It is… More
October 2025 Lawrence O. Gostin,
Throughout my career, I have chaired and been a member of countless scientific and health policy advisory committees for the federal… More
October 2025 Dalton Conley,
Almost 28 years ago, I became a young, new father. Too young by a couple months, actually, since my daughter was born prematurely. During her… More
Quarterly Article
September 2025 Louisiana M. Sanchez, Junhan Cho, Alyssa F. Harlow, Richard A. Miech, Steven Sussman, Hongying D. Dai, Abigail Adjei, Dae-Hee Han, Ming Li, Leah Meza, Adam M. Leventhal, Dayoung Bae,
The specific nontobacco e-cigarette flavors used by US youth who exclusively vape e-cigarettes compared with youth who engage in poly-tobacco or poly-substance use can help identify the populations most likely to be impacted by e-cigarette flavor policies. More
August 2025 LORI DORFMAN, Sarah E. Gollust, MAKANI THEMBA, PRITPAL S. TAMBER, Anthony Iton,
A growing body of scholarship and practice in public health attests to the importance of addressing differences in power as a fundamental determinant of health inequities. To pursue health equity, public health practitioners must move beyond identifying differences in health outcomes among populations (disparities) to articulating why those differences are unfair or unjust (inequities) and then identifying structures, such as laws, policies, practices, and norms, that advantage some and disadvantage others. More
August 2025 John Billimek, Melina Michelen, Patricia J. Cantero, Noraima Chirinos, Rocio Salazar, Mary Anne Foo, Samantha Peralta, Brittany N. Morey, Jacqueline J. Chow, Salvador Zarate, Sora Park Tanjasiri, Alana M. W. Lebrón,
Community health workers (CHWs) are frontline public health workers who support the well-being and capacity building of residents disproportionately affected by health inequities. The purpose of this study is to examine diverse perspectives on the conditions for CHW success as CHWs were engaged in rapidly implemented, highly responsive education, vaccination, and recovery efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic in a large county in Southern California. More
June 2025 Sarah E. Gollust, Kristina Medero, Quin Mudry Nelson, Ceron Ford, Erika Franklin Fowler, Jeff Niederdeppe, Rebekah H. Nagler,
Public health communicators often discuss health equity–related concepts, but it is not clear what strategies they use or what resources can support them to overcome challenges they face. More
April 2025 Rebekah H. Nagler, Erika Franklin Fowler, Emily K. Vraga, Alexander J. Rothman, Rachel I. Vogel, Sarah E. Gollust,
Our survey found that a high proportion of the American public (almost 80%) had heard about the firing of federal scientists and health workers, and a substantial number had heard of federal cuts to health research and treatment abroad (73.7%), to indirect costs (73.3%), and to specific research grants (70.2%). More
April 2025 Nahid Bhadelia, Laura White, Lawrence O. Gostin,
In 2024, we warned about the potential for measles resurgence in the United States, due to declining vaccination rates and growing religious and… More
April 2025 Joshua M. Sharfstein,
It was during the Presidency of George W. Bush in 2006 that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) asserted that “the foundation of HHS… More