Milbank Fellows

Lisa Asare was appointed the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority in March 2024. She was also appointed to serve as the first Maternal and Infant Health Cabinet Member in Governor Phil Murphy’s Cabinet, the first in the nation of its kind. Before this appointment, Lisa served as […] More

Palav Babaria, MD, MHS, was appointed as Chief Quality & Medical Officer and Deputy Director of Quality and Population Health Management for the California Department of Health Care Services in March 2021. In this role, she is responsible for the policy, implementation and oversight of all quality, health equity and population health management activities in […] More

Kyle Brown serves as state representative in Colorado, representing Southeastern Boulder County. Previously, he served as Deputy Commissioner of Insurance, where he spearheaded efforts to stand up Colorado’s public option program. He has served as a senior advisor and policy director to two Colorado governors and two senior US Senators.  More

Rebecca (Becky) Buhner serves as the Deputy Director and Chief of Staff at Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA), under the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. In her role, Becky partners with the DMHA Director to drive the division’s mission and vision, ensuring that strategic goals are met with precision and dedication. […] More

Colleen Burton was elected to the Florida Senate in November of 2022 after serving eight years in the Florida House of Representatives. She serves as the Chair of the Health Policy and Vice Chair of Judiciary. She also sit on several other committees and was appointed to the Cancer Control & Research Advisory Council by […] More

Christopher Chen, MD, MBA, is a Medical Director for Medicaid and Clinical Informatics at the Washington State Health Care Authority. He helps guide clinical policy and strategy at the agency, and supports initiatives in health information technology, telehealth, quality, and health equity. He is currently chair of the Medicaid Medical Director’s Network and sits on […] More

Ebony Clarke, Behavioral Health Director for the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), is a licensed clinical social worker. She has 25 years of experience in both the publicly funded and non-profit behavioral health arena influencing policy, applying an equity and consumer lens, developing services and supports, and providing leadership, organizational development, people management, and equity and […] More

Kelly Crosbie brings over 30 years of experience in providing and managing public services and supports for people with mental health and substance use issues, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and brain injury. In her current role as the Director of the NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services, Kelly oversees the public community-based […] More

Spending almost 40 years in health care as a physician and medical director has given Kentucky Senator Donald Douglas a unique perspective of the wants and needs of his constituents. From team captain in athletics to Health & Family Services committee chair, Donald has gained knowledge and continues to seek ways to serve. Now in the legislature in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Donald has more […] More

Cindy Friedman has been a Massachusetts State Senator representing the Fourth Middlesex District since 2017. She is Chair of the Senate Joint Committee on Healthcare Financing, which over sees bills related to any aspect of health care, as well as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. Prior to becoming a state […] More

Ashley Goss is the Deputy Secretary for Public Health at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, overseeing over 500 employees across various public health programs. These programs include the Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories, disease control and prevention, epidemiology, and health promotion. Before her state role, she spent 11 years in a local public […] More

Representative Scott Holcomb represents the 81st District in the Georgia House of Representatives, where he serves on the Rules; Appropriations; Ways and Means; Higher Education; Judiciary; Juvenile Justice; Public Safety and Homeland Security; Defense and Veterans Affairs; and Technology and Infrastructure Innovation committees. He has focused his legislative efforts on issues of justice and improving […] More

Kirsten Johnson was appointed as the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services by Governor Evers in February 2023. Previously the Health Commissioner of the largest city in Wisconsin, Kirsten is passionate about addressing the social determinants of health and solving challenges facing public health and health care post-pandemic and in the future. With […] More

Lee Johnson was first elected Arkansas State Representative for District 47 in 2018. He is a board-certified emergency medicine physician who served on the Greenwood City Council for 10 years. His experience in municipal government led to an interest in state government. He has been Chair of the House Public Health Committee since 2023.  More

Since 2006, Joseline Peña-Melnyk has been a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, championing over 100 bills into law and serving as Chair of the Health and Government Operations Committee. As the highest-ranking Latina in Maryland’s General Assembly history, she co-founded the Maryland Legislative Latino Caucus and holds key positions in various other caucuses. […] More

As Director of Prevention and Health Promotion Administration in the Maryland Department of Health, Elizabeth leads the state’s core public health programs, including cancer and chronic disease, maternal and child health, environmental health, infectious disease prevention, epidemiology and outbreak response. She oversees an annual budget of over $500 million in federal, state and special funds […] More

Connecticut State Senator Matthew Lesser is an 8th term legislator serving as Chair of Connecticut’s Human Services Committee. He is also a member of the Appropriations, Judiciary, Insurance & Real Estate, Labor & Public Employees committees and serves as Vice Chair of the Housing Committee. Prior to his service in the Senate, Matthew served five terms […] More

As the Chief Medical Officer for the State Medicaid Agency of the District of Columbia, Chimene Liburd, MD, oversees the clinical aspects of the Medicaid program, ensuring that the services provided meet the highest standards of care and effectiveness. She leads efforts to develop and implement healthcare policies that improve patient outcomes and optimize resource […] More

Elected in 2017 to represent District 102 in the Mississippi House of Representatives, Missy McGee currently serves as Chairman of the House Medicaid Committee. She served as Vice-Chairman of the House Public Health and Human Services Committee from 2020-2023.  More

Assembly Member Amy Paulin has served the 88th New York State Assembly District (Scarsdale, Edgemont, Eastchester, Bronxville, Tuckahoe, Pelham, Pelham Manor, and parts of New Rochelle and White Plains) since 2001. A full-time legislator, Assembly Member Paulin annually ranks among the state’s most productive and successful lawmakers. Over 350 of her bills have been signed […] More

Senator Jennifer Plumb, MD, MPH, is serving her first term in the Utah State Legislature and was elected to Minority Assistant Whip. Jennifer is a champion for data-driven public policy and has sponsored legislation to address a range of issues, including substance use and prevention, child welfare, criminal justice reform, and environmental quality. She is […] More

As Commissioner of the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and a member of the governor’s cabinet, Wayne spearheads initiatives to propel North Dakota towards its goal of becoming the healthiest state in the nation. With a focus on bolstering the pillars of well-being—physical, economic, and behavioral—he leads the development and execution […] More

For more than 25 years, Patricia Tilley has worked in service of children, youth, families, and individuals to build stronger systems that support optimal health and wellness. As Associate Commissioner for the New Hampshire Department of Health Human Services, she builds partnerships with policymakers, advocates, and New Hampshire communities. Her portfolio includes the Division of […] More

As the Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), Puthiery, DO, leads the strategic direction and oversight of public health initiatives to promote and protect the health of all Mainers. In this role, she spearheads efforts to effectively manage challenges including infectious disease outbreaks, chronic disease prevention, health impacts because […] More