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Staff
Marianne Udow-Phillips
MHSA, University of Michigan
Director
Marianne Udow-Phillips is the director of the Center for Healthcare Research & Transformation (CHRT), a non-profit partnership of the University of Michigan (U-M) and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) with a mission to promote evidence based care delivery, improve population health, and expand access to care. CHRT combines the research strengths of the University with the health plan expertise of the Blues to test the best ideas for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the health care system. CHRT is also committed to informing and educating the public through a range of forums, symposia, and reports relevant to policy makers and the public at large.
Before coming to CHRT, Marianne served as director of the Michigan Department of Human Services from 2004 to 2007, appointed by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. Marianne came to state service from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM), where she served in a number of leadership roles for over 20 years, most recently as senior vice president of Health Care Products and Provider Services, with responsibility for the BCBSM social mission, health policy, data analysis, care and network management programs for the traditional and PPO products. She also served as senior vice president and vice president of Plans and Operations for Mercy Alternative and Care Choices. Marianne has a master’s degree in Health Services Administration (MHSA) from the U-M School of Public Health; she is an adjunct professor at the U-M School of Public Health and Ford School of Public Policy and a reviewer for the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
In addition to her long standing commitment to improving the quality and affordability of health care, Marianne is a passionate advocate for improving the lives of the poor with a special emphasis on children, including a focus on early childhood development. She has served on many boards and commissions. Among others, her current board involvement includes the HighScope Foundation, the Early Childhood Investment Corporation, Novo 1 Inc., Freedom from Hunger, the U-M School of Public Health Dean’s Advisory Committee, and the U-M Depression Center’s National Advisory Board. Marianne has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the Anti-Defamation League’s “Women of Achievement Award,” Crain’s Detroit Business top 100 “Most Influential Women” in 2002 and 2007, Wayne State College of Nursing’s “2003 Lifeline Award,” Girl Scouts of Huron Valley Council’s “2006 Women of Distinction Award,” Michigan Business and Professional Association’s “2006 Women & Leadership in the Workplace Award,” Michigan Fatherhood Coalition’s “2007 Child Advocate Award,” Michigan Women’s Foundation’s “2007 Women of Achievement and Courage Award,” and most recently, the 2008 Michigan’s Children’s “Heroes” award.
Andy Ballard
BA, University of Michigan
Research Associate
Andy Ballard is a research associate with CHRT, working on research projects to help inform policy decisions, with a special focus on preparations for health reform. Before coming to CHRT, Andy worked as a researcher with the Department of Economics at Michigan State University, The School of Social Work at the University of Michigan, and the Department of Political Science at the University of Michigan.
Nancy Baum
PhD, University of Michigan; MHS, Johns Hopkins University
Analytic Consultant
Nancy Baum leads CHRT's work in data analysis and public information on important health care trends in Michigan and nationally.
Nancy recently defended her dissertation in the Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health. Prior to working at CHRT, Nancy was also a Research Health Science Specialist in the Center for Excellence, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Ann Arbor, and a lecturer both at the University of Michigan in the School of Public Health, and at Eastern Michigan University in the School of Health Sciences. In addition, she previously worked as a policy analyst at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C.
Patrice Eller
MSW and MPH, University of Michigan
Health Policy Consultant
Patrice Eller is a health policy consultant at CHRT, responsible for the development and funding of research projects focused on health status improvement and access to health care, and policy research focused on health reform.
During her first two years with CHRT, Patrice concurrently served as director of the Health Care Value Enhancement Division for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM). Prior to that, Patrice served as deputy director for Adult and Family Services at the Michigan Department of Human Services for three years. Her 23 year career with BCBSM includes four years as manager of Social Mission, where she developed the health agenda focusing on health status improvement initiatives and supported the Access to Health Care Coalition. Patrice holds master's degrees in social work and public health from the University of Michigan.
Josh Fangmeier
MPP, University of Michigan
Health Policy Consultant
Josh Fangmeier is a health policy consultant at CHRT. He is responsible for providing policy analysis and analytical support for a variety of health policy projects, including issues related to implementation of healthcare reform at the state and federal levels.
Prior to joining CHRT, Josh was a health policy intern at the National Governors Association in Washington, D.C. He also served as an AmeriCorps VISTA in West Virginia. Josh holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Michigan, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, and a B.A. in Political Science and History from Hastings College.
Jody Fisher
BA, University of Michigan
MiPCT Project Assistant
Jody Fisher is the project assistant for the Michigan Primary Care Transformation Project (MiPCT), responsible for administrative support, database programming and maintenance, graphic design, communications, writing, and editing. She serves as assistant to Diane Bechel-Marriott and Marie Beisel.
Before coming to CHRT, Jody worked as a freelance graphic designer for over 20 years. She was the founding director of Summer Kampers, an educational and recreational enrichment organization in Ann Arbor; she has 19 years experience in business management and marketing and 12 years experience as a teacher and educational administrator. Jody earned her BA in early childhood education and fine arts from the University of Michigan.
Brandon Hemmings
MSW, University of Michigan
Health Policy Fellow
Brandon Hemmings is a health policy fellow at CHRT, providing data analysis and research support on a variety of projects related to healthcare trends and improvement for various populations in Michigan and nationally.
Brandon graduated in 2010 from the University of Michigan School Of Social Work with a master’s in Community Organization and Health, during which time he worked with the Washtenaw Health Plan performing healthcare outreach and coordination. Brandon’s work at CHRT focuses on healthcare issues within the retired autoworker population, and more broadly on health issues such as obesity.
Elizabeth Jahn
BA, University of Michigan
Administrative Manager
Elizabeth Jahn manages the administrative, legal, and financial aspects of the Center.
Before joining CHRT, Elizabeth worked for twelve years as assistant to the president of the University Musical Society (UMS), one of the nation's leading arts presenting organizations. In addition to serving as a key administrator and project facilitator, she was the liaison to the board of directors.
Heather Kofke-Egger
MS Candidate, University of Michigan
Health Care Analyst
Heather Kofke-Egger is a health care analyst at CHRT. She supports CHRT’s public information and policy research activities, serving as one of the primary researchers on the Price of Care series of reports on health care costs in Michigan. Her current work includes research on preventable readmissions and appropriate use of healthcare services.
Tiffani Lee
MS, Eastern Michigan University
Executive Assistant
Tiffani Lee coordinates the key administrative needs for the Center in support of the director, staff, research projects and outreach initiatives.
Tiffani earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Eastern Michigan University and a Master of Science in Quality Management, specializing in Lean.
Diane Bechel Marriott
DrPH, University of Michigan; MHSA, University of Michigan
Manager, Population Health and Patient-Centered Care
Diane Bechel Marriott leads applied policy and research activity on population health and patient-centered care at CHRT, including a project to deploy a multi-payer advanced patient-centered care model in the state of Michigan, funded by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Center for Innovation.
Before coming to CHRT in 2010, Diane served as Ford Motor Company’s Manager and Corporate Lead for Healthcare Strategy, Quality and Data. Prior to this, she served as National Director of Hospital Profiling, a joint project of Ford, Chrysler, General Motors, and the American Hospital Association. She teaches in the graduate Health Management programs at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor and Eastern Michigan University. Diane received her doctorate in health policy in 1998 from the University of Michigan, as a Pew Charitable Trust Fellow.
Jonathan Moore
Research Associate
Jonathan Moore is a research associate at CHRT, focusing on policy analysis related to health reform. Jonathan is also a Master of Public Policy student at the Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan. Prior to coming to CHRT, Jonathan worked at NORC at the University of Chicago as a health care policy research analyst in their Bethesda, MD office and recently interned at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Carrie Rheingans
MPH, MSW, University of Michigan
Washtenaw Health Initiative Project Manager
Carrie Rheingans is the project manager for the Washtenaw Health Initiative, a county-wide voluntary collaboration working to improve access to coordinated care for the low-income, uninsured, and Medicaid populations.
Carrie is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan’s dual master program in public health (focusing on health behavior and health education) and social work (focusing on community organization). In 2010, she helped found the county’s first Latino-focused community organization, Casa Latina. To date, much of Carrie’s work has focused on the social determinants of global health, especially in the field of HIV and AIDS.
Melissa Riba
MS, Michigan State University
Healthcare Research Consultant
Melissa Riba is responsible for the research and evaluation design components of CHRT projects and takes the lead in identifying researchers and research partners for projects in both major project categories: care delivery/financing systems and population health/access to care.
Prior to this position, Melissa was a senior consultant for evaluation and survey research in the Health and Human Services Policy Division at Public Sector Consultants, Inc. In this role, Melissa designed and conducted research that evaluated federal and state funded programs related to expanding access to care for the uninsured, children's mental health, special education, and the use of substance abuse services among the Medicaid population in mid- and southern Michigan.
Phillip Stadler
MPH, University of Michigan
Health Policy Analyst
Phillip Stadler is a health care analyst at CHRT. He is currently working on the CHRT Policy Fellowship at the University of Michigan, which provides an opportunity for selected University of Michigan health services researchers and Michigan policy-makers to collaborate on translating research into policy and informing policy with research.
Before coming to CHRT in 2011, Phillip was a health care analyst for the U.S. Government Accountability Office, analyzing federal and state oversight of health services. Phillip earned his MPH in health management and policy from the University of Michigan and his BS in psychology from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Karen Stock
MBA, Northwood University
Communications Director
Karen Stock is responsible for developing and implementing communication strategies to promote CHRT's mission and share its work with partners, stakeholders and the public.
Karen brings more than 20 years of communications and outreach experience to CHRT including work with the Michigan Department of Human Services, the Michigan Department of Information Technology, Northwood University, and the Lansing Art Gallery.
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A non-profit partnership between
University of Michigan Health System &
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan