Health Policy Leadership

Overview

Creating an atmosphere and context for improving health requires a system of support for health and ameliorating suffering.  That’s been the focus of my work… population health, prevention, early intervention. Various sectors and settings contribute (or detract) from good health. Over 5 decades, I have been part of efforts to improve health systems internationally, nationally, and locally. This work has been from a variety of settings including academia, state & federal government, ‘think tanks,’ philanthropy and not-for-profit organizations both domestic and global. Having various vantage points for this work has enabled me to be a bridging person between these often separate worlds, having known each sector from the inside.

During the past 5 decades, bold attempts have been tried to improve the health and well-being of people in the US and around the world.  Sadly, the US remains low on the list of developed nations for healthy outcomes, despite nearly double the cost spent per individual in America.  Our system is fragmented, expensive, complex and largely geared towards end-stage chronic illness treatment rather than prevention or early intervention.  Some bold actions have been taken in this half century.  I have been part of these reform efforts in positions in the federal and state levels as well as in other countries.