The Alliance For Health Reform: Staff

	Alicia Cohen, Operations Associate. Alicia joined the Alliance team in March of 2008. She is originally from New Jersey where she received her BA in Political Science and Women’s and Gender Studies from Douglass College, Rutgers University. With her previous experience in nonprofits working on women’s rights and health issues, Alicia plans on pursuing a master’s degree in social work and public health.

	Laura Covington, Conference Assistant. Laura joined the Alliance in summer 2007 after graduating from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication and African Studies. Before coming to the Alliance, she worked part-time focusing on health and technology clients for French\|West\|Vaughan. Laura interned at Planned Parenthood Association of South Africa, where she developed promotional and educational materials for high-risk populations. She hopes to pursue a master’s degree in public health.

	Bill Erwin, Communications Director. Before joining the Alliance, Bill headed his own media relations firm serving the Alliance and other health-related clients. Earlier, he served as communications director of Families USA, and shared media relations responsibilities at the American Hospital Association. He holds a master's degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, and an undergraduate degree from Duke. E-Mail: billerwin@allhealth.org

	Edward F. Howard, Executive Vice President. Ed has headed up the Alliance since its formation in 1991. Previously, he served as general counsel for the Pepper Commission, a bipartisan congressional panel convened to plan for providing health coverage to all Americans. Before that, he directed public policy at the Villers Foundation and at the National Council on the Aging, and served as general counsel to the House Select Committee on Aging. He holds a juris doctor degree from Harvard University.

	Matt McCafferty, Staff Assistant. Matt came to the Alliance in April 2008. He graduated from the Catholic University of America in 2007 with a B.A. in Politics. He hopes to pursue a career in public policy or international relations

	Deanna Okrent, Health Policy Associate. Before joining the Alliance in spring 2007, Deanna was a consultant on aging and health policy to private and not-for-profit organizations for seven years. She is also a professional mediator. Earlier she was a policy associate for the Alpha Center (now AcademyHealth). Prior to that, Deanna served as an associate director for the 1995 White House Conference on Aging. She holds an M.A. in physiology from the City University of NY at Hunter College and a master’s degree in public administration from SUNY.

	Nancy M. Peavy, Director of Operations. Nancy has been at the Alliance since 1992. Previously, she spent 22 years at the National Council on the Aging, culminating her service as vice president. She holds bachelor's and MAT degrees from Connecticut College.

	Lisa Swirsky, Senior Health Policy Associate. Lisa, an attorney, has done health policy-related work for the law firm of FoxKiser in Washington, D.C., and for the firm of Ungaretti and Harris. Earlier, she was a health policy analyst at Families USA and at the Catholic Health Association. She has also done policy work at the Older Women’s League in Washington and at the Center for Health Services and Policy Research in Chicago. She received her J.D. degree from the George Washington University School of Law, and her B.S. degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

	Lindsey Cook, Intern. A native of Chicago, Lindsey moved to Washington to join the Alliance in May 2008 after graduating with a master of public health degree from Indiana University-Bloomington. She also holds a B.A. in biology and Spanish from Indiana University. She plans to apply her continual research and volunteerism to improve social justice within public health in a career in health policy and advocacy for underserved populations. Pursuit of a PhD is also in her future.

	Lindsay Feuerborn, Intern. Lindsay graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in psychology. She is currently working towards her master’s degree in counseling psychology counselor education from the University of Colorado at Denver. After graduating, Lindsay plans to obtain her license in marriage and family counseling (LMFT).

	Sanjay Mohanty, Intern. Sanjay is interning at the Alliance after finishing his first year of medical school at the Indiana University School of Medicine. He graduated with a BA in English language and literature from the University of Michigan. He plans to pursue both a masters degree in public health and a career in clinical practice, health policy, teaching, and writing.

Staff

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