News

On January 30, the ninth cohort of CHRT Health Policy Fellows will begin a four-month curriculum designed to build bridges between Michigan’s health researchers and policymakers. The curriculum includes the history of health care in America, Affordable Care Act implementation and impact in Michigan, value-based insurance design, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services priorities, collaborative quality initiatives, health care costs, and more. Many of the sessions are led by outside experts, including senior administrators at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and nationally regarded experts in health policy.

Fellows meet in Ann Arbor for seven, day-long seminars on public health policy and current issues affecting health policy and practice in Michigan and across the nation; take experiential learning trips to Detroit, Lansing, and Washington, DC, to see health policy and practice in action; and hear from health communicators and legislators about effective advocacy strategies. The CHRT Health Policy Fellows also work collaboratively on projects designed to translate new research findings for use by policymakers and practitioners.

This year, for the first time, the fellowship class will include leaders from the non-profit sector. The inclusion of policy fellows with non-profit experience is designed to further expand the perspective of the class and reflect the growing importance and increased interest of the non-profit sector in health care policy.

“The CHRT Health Policy fellowship creates a unique, multi-disciplinary environment that promotes deep learning and innovative thinking across the health care, public policy and non-profit sectors,” said Marianne Udow-Phillips, CHRT Director. “The enhanced training and connections created through the Fellowship strengthen the ability of leaders in all three sectors to have a positive impact on the health of people and communities.”

The 2020 CHRT Health Policy Fellows are:

• Denise Anthony, Professor of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health

• Chardae Burton, Legislative Analyst, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

• Ramiro Galván, Chief of Staff, State Senator Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids, MI)

• Cassidy Giltner, Legislative Assistant, State Senator Michael MacDonald (R-Sterling Heights, MI)

• Jeremy Glick, Legislative Director, State Representative Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia, MI)

• Adrienne Lapidos, PhD, Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Michigan Medical School, Department of Psychiatry

• Emily Toth Martin, PhD, Associate Professor of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health

• Michelle A. Meade, Associate Professor, University of Michigan Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

• Lisa Peacock, Health Officer, Health Department of Northwest Michigan and Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department

• Kait Skwir, Director of Policy and Special Projects, Food Bank Council of Michigan

• Greg Toutant, Chief Executive Officer, Great Lakes Recovery Centers

• Jen Villavicencio, MD, Clinical Lecturer, UM Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

• Samantha Zandee, Chief Policy Advisor, State Representative Brandt Iden (R-Portage, MI)

More information about the CHRT Health Policy Fellowship and complete biographies of all the 2020 CHRT Policy Fellows can be found at https://chrt.org/fellowship/.