Hamilton, New Jersey (April 8, 2019) – Today, the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) Board of Trustees announced the selection of Allison Hamblin, MSPH, as the next president and chief executive officer (CEO) for the organization, effective July 1, 2019. Ms. Hamblin will replace Stephen A. Somers, PhD, CHCS’ current president, CEO, and founder, who will be stepping down after 24 years.

“On behalf of the Center for Health Care Strategies Board of Trustees, I am delighted to announce our unanimous appointment of Allison Hamblin to lead CHCS into its next exciting chapter,” said Estelle Richman, chair of the CHCS Board and former secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. “Allison has been instrumental in taking CHCS’ work to new heights over the last several years and her leadership, strategic vision, and deep policy and delivery-system expertise are ideally suited to steer the organization’s pioneering work to improve care delivery for Americans in need.”

Ever since Ms. Hamblin joined CHCS in 2006, her role has steadily grown to her current position as senior vice president responsible for program development, strategic planning, and financial management. Through her leadership and oversight, CHCS has cemented its reputation as a go-to national resource supporting complex care innovations. She has also led organization-wide efforts to streamline and strengthen CHCS operations.

“Allison has been an indispensable partner in realizing CHCS’ mission to improve health care delivery for low-income populations,” Somers said. “She is a true social entrepreneur with a passion for problem solving on behalf of our most needy citizens. I could not be more confident about passing the torch to her.”

“It is an honor and a privilege to carry on Steve’s legacy at CHCS,” Hamblin said. “With the support of our incredible staff, board, and committed partners across the nation, I look forward to continuing CHCS’ work in fostering meaningful improvements in the quality and cost-effectiveness of health care services for at-risk populations.”

As part of CHCS’ leadership transition, Tricia McGinnis, MPP, MPH, will assume the new role of executive vice president and chief program officer overseeing the organization’s broad programmatic strategy. “In taking on this new position, I am fortunate to be joined by my long-time colleague Tricia McGinnis, who is a nationally recognized expert in health system transformation with a steadfast commitment to improving outcomes for low-income populations and addressing health equity,” Hamblin said.

Somers, who founded CHCS in 1995 as a start-up with three staff members and built it into a team of 55 staff with nationwide reach, will remain with the organization as a strategic advisor for select initiatives.

“Since CHCS’ founding, Steve Somers has been a visionary with an innate grasp of where Medicaid trends are heading next,” Richman said. “We are grateful for his tenure and fortunate to have found a strong leader to follow in his footsteps.”

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The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), founded in 1995, is a nonprofit policy center dedicated to improving the health of low-income Americans, especially for individuals with complex, high-cost needs. CHCS works with state and federal agencies, health plans, providers, and community-based organizations to advance innovative and cost-effective models for organizing, financing, and delivering health care services. For more information, visit www.chcs.org