News

The strength of the CHRT team comes from the people behind our work. We’re proud to recognize team members who continue to grow and make an impact, while also thanking those moving on to new opportunities.

Celebrating Team Promotions

Kirsten Cormier Promoted to Project Management & Organizational Alignment Coordinator
Please join us in congratulating Kirsten Cormier on her promotion to Project Management & Organizational Alignment Coordinator.

Kirsten has been an integral part of the CHRT team, supporting human resources, IT, and day-to-day operations. With her MBA focused on project management, she has played a key role in strengthening internal processes and leading project management efforts across the organization.

In her new role, Kirsten will help align programmatic, financial, and administrative functions. She will lead the development of organization-wide project management standards, SOPs, and performance dashboards to support continuous improvement across CHRT’s work.

Gudrun Bossmann Promoted to Director of Finance
We are also proud to announce the promotion of Gudrun Bossmann to Director of Finance.

Gudrun has been a cornerstone of CHRT’s financial operations. Her leadership in budget forecasting, financial oversight, and compliance has ensured the success and integrity of our diverse portfolio of projects and funding initiatives.

With a strong background in financial management and international operations, she has helped the CHRT team maintain high standards, including clean audits and effective financial systems. This promotion recognizes her dedication and the critical role she plays in supporting the organization’s continued success.

Team Farewell

Nailah Henry
We also extend our appreciation to Nailah Henry, who will be departing after accepting a new role as a Project Manager at Freedman HealthCare.

Since joining the CHRT team in June 2023, Nailah has been a valued partner, contributing her expertise and collaborating across projects over the past two and a half years.

We thank Nailah for her contributions and wish her all the best in this next chapter.

CHRT’s 2025 Health Policy Fellowship wrapped up in May, capping off five months of learning for the twelve fellows who participated in the annual program. The fellowship helps emerging health leaders—working in policy, nonprofit, clinical, and academic spaces—build the skills, experiences, and relationships that support effective health policy leadership at the state and national level.

CHRT is deeply grateful to the health policy experts who contributed their time and insights. Their expertise was central to the fellowship experience.

In Lansing, the fellows met with legislators and policymakers:

• Rep. Carrie Rheingans, House Agriculture Committee; House Families and Veterans Committee
  
• Rep. Curtis VanderWall, Chair, House Health Policy Committee
  
• Rep. John Roth, Chair, House Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee; Vice Chair, House Higher Education and Community Colleges Subcommittee
  
• Sen. Sylvia Santana, Chair, Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee; Vice Chair, Senate Health Policy Committee, Senate Corrections and Judiciary Appropriations Subcommittee, Senate Housing and Human Services Committee, and Senate LARA/DIFS Appropriations Subcommittee
  

And in Detroit, fellows met with:

• Reverend Simmons, Executive Director, Brightmoor Alliance
  
• Zina M. Davis, Executive Director, Children of the Rising Sun Empowerment Center
  
• Kristine Walton, Supervisor, Women Inspired Neighborhood (WIN) Network at Henry Ford Health
  
• Eric Candela, Director of Public Policy, Forgotten Harvest
  
• Espy Thomas, Owner, Sweet Potato Sensations
  
• Shamayim “Mama Shu” Harris, Founder and CEO, Avalon Village
  
• Dr. Felix Valbuena, CEO, Community Health and Social Services Center (CHASS)
  

In Washtenaw County, fellows had eight sessions, meeting with:

• Marianne Udow-Phillips, Senior Advisor, CHRT
  
• Joshua Traylor, Executive Director, CHRT
  
• Karla Ruest, Senior Consultant, Capitol Affairs
  
• Marisa Eisenberg, Professor, Departments of Epidemiology, Complex Systems, and Mathematics, University of Michigan
  
• Tayo Moss, Policy and Program Officer, Michigan Health Endowment Fund
  
• Kim Ross, Chief Government Relations Officer, Michigan Medicine
  
• Kris Kangas-Kraft, Director of State Relations, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
  
• Kirk Roy, Senior Vice President and Chief Actuary, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
  
• Toshiki Masaki, Operating Model Transformation Manager (Retired), Ford Motor Company
  
• Ted Makowiec, Senior Vice President and Health Consultant, Segal
  
• Phillis Englebert, Owner, Detroit Street Filling Station, The Lunch Room, and North Star Lounge
  
• Debra Roberts, Vice President of Operations, HealthFocus
  
• Sarah Wang, Policy Engagement Program Manager, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation
  
• Elizabeth Kutter, Senior Director, Michigan Health and Hospital Association
  
• Meghann Keit-Corrion, Government Policy Advisor, Dykema
  
• Melina Brann, Director of Government Relations, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan
  
• Dr. Vanessa Dalton, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan
  
• Dr. Jonne McCoy White, Academic Research Specialist, MIRACLE Center
  
• Nicole Marie White, CPM, Policy Director and Co-founder, Birth Detroit
  
• Meghan Groen, Medicaid Director, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
  
• Patricia Graham, Plan President and CEO, Meridian
  
• Todd Anderson, Market President, Blue Cross Complete
  
• Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Chief Medical Executive, MDHHS
  
• Christina Floyd, Deputy Director of Public Health, City of Detroit
  
• Khalil Al-Hajal, Deputy Opinion Editor, Detroit Free Press
  
• Kate Wells, Public Health Reporter, Michigan Radio
  
• Robin Erb, Health Reporter, Bridge Michigan
  
• Kristen Shamus, Health Reporter, Detroit Free Press
  
• Dr. Mark Fendrick, Director, Center for Value-Based Insurance Design, University of Michigan
  
• Kelly Ainsworth and Sean McCabe, 2025 CHRT Fellows
  
• Kristina Leonardi, Director of Aging and Community Services, MDHHS
  
• Katie Abraham, Policy Advisor, Michigan Opioid Task Force
  
• Jared Welehodsky, State Assistant Administrator, MDHHS
  
• Charles Reuland, Chief Operations Integration Officer, University of Michigan Health
  
• Ginny Creasman, Medical Center Director, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System
  
• Dr. Richard Schildhouse, Chief of Staff, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System
  
• Dana Habers, Chief Innovation Officer and Chief Operating Officer for Pharmacy Services, U-M Health
  
• Chris Kolb, Vice President for Government Relations, University of Michigan
  

CHRT is honored to support a fellowship that brings together leaders from across Michigan’s health ecosystem and connects them with some of the state’s most influential policymakers and practitioners. We thank all the experts who shared their time, stories, and strategies and we look forward to building on these connections in the year to come.

Transportation is so much more than a logistical concern—it’s a cornerstone of healthcare access. 

When patients can’t physically get to their appointments, pick up prescriptions, or buy groceries, their overall health suffers.

Non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT)—a service that helps people get to healthcare-related destinations when they don’t have access to other options—can help bridge this gap. 

Michigan has included non-emergency medical transportation in the scope of covered services for Medicaid beneficiaries for many years. Anecdotally, however, I still hear a lot about the failings of NEMT in my county.

In 2023, I worked with others at the Washtenaw Health Initiative to organize a transportation summit with dozens of local leaders. One of the biggest challenges we heard about at the summit was the lack of a coordinated NEMT system.  A centralized organization to coordinate transportation would allow patients to call a single number to schedule rides, streamlining the process and improving service reliability.

Another critical gap, we heard, is meeting the needs of patients who need mobility aids, such as wheelchairs or assistance getting from the vehicle to the building, and vice versa. This is a fundamental aspect of accessible transportation, yet it’s often left up to individual providers to determine if they will provide door-to-door and door-through-door accommodations.

Technology could play a big role in making our NEMT system work effectively—here in Washtenaw County and in other counties across the state. Some of our local organizations are already gathering data—such as how often rides fail—but it’s tough to identify recurring issues without a coordinated approach.

To understand and improve NEMT services, we’d need to track a few key metrics:

• How often patients attend scheduled medical appointments when transportation is provided.
• Whether reliable transportation allows patients to pick up and take their medications as prescribed.
• The broader impact of reliable transportation on patients’ health and recovery.

By collecting and analyzing this kind of data, we can gain valuable insights into how transportation services influence healthcare access and outcomes—and use that information to make meaningful improvements to our local transportation systems.

Tracking transportation needs could be helpful, too. For example, if we see a high demand for transportation to grocery stores or social gatherings, that data could guide decisions about funding or expanding services. This is especially important in areas like Washtenaw County, where transportation options are more limited for people in rural and other underserved communities.

Improving NEMT services in Washtenaw County—and in other communities—requires a coordinated approach that prioritizes accessibility, integrates technology, and uses meaningful data to drive decision-making.

What are your thoughts on transportation and healthcare access? Let’s start a conversation.