The Fund supports networks of state health policy decision makers to help identify, inspire, and inform policy leaders.
The Milbank Memorial Fund supports two state leadership programs for legislative and executive branch state government officials committed to improving population health.
The Fund identifies and shares policy ideas and analysis to advance state health leadership, strong primary care, and sustainable health care costs.
Keep up with news and updates from the Milbank Memorial Fund. And read the latest blogs from our thought leaders, including Fund President Christopher F. Koller.
The Fund publishes The Milbank Quarterly, as well as reports, issues briefs, and case studies on topics important to health policy leaders.
The Milbank Memorial Fund is is a foundation that works to improve population health and health equity.
The Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) was created by the Reforming States Group in 2015 with the goal of developing future health policy leaders in the executive and legislative branches of state government. What has been the effect of the program on participants? Jennifer Steele, Louisiana Medicaid Director, has served in this role since January 2016 and came to the position from a series of budget and policy positions within the Louisiana Legislature and Department of Health. We asked Jennifer how her experience in ELP has helped her:
ELP has built my professional skill set in areas that are key to leadership positions, but in which I had little training in previous roles. For example, historically, when negotiating, I asked for exactly what I wanted and often ended up with less. ELP introduced me to the “door in the face” approach. By starting from an extreme that allows me to “concede” to a “more reasonable” place that feels like a win for the other party, I was able to secure major improvements to our managed care program in a contract amendment last fall.
The program also taught me the critical importance of relationships, which I have come to understand are a primary currency of leadership positions. As a policy analyst, for example, intellect and independent effort were sufficient for success. But, as director, success depends more on “EQ” or emotional intelligence than IQ. Consciously developing my ability to communicate and build trust with others—especially those I don’t have a natural affinity with—and to identify and harness divergent interests to achieve a mutually desirable end has helped me overcome previously insurmountable barriers to progress on multiple policy fronts, barriers that brains alone could never surmount!
Adds Chris Koller, “The Board of the Fund is enthusiastic about the ELP and its potential for identifying and developing future senior state health policy leadership. The RSG’s sponsorship of the program—in identifying participants, overseeing the curriculum, and serving as individual mentors—will continue to be essential to the program’s success. In particular, RSG Steering Committee members, including Tom Betlach, Nick Macchione, and John Selig, among many others have served as advisors to MMF staff, and we appreciate their time and insights.”
