Hamilton, NJ, October 22, 2025 — Today, the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) announced the fifth cohort of the Medicaid Pathways Program. Twenty rising leaders from Medicaid agencies across the country were competitively selected to participate in this executive training program, which is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The Medicaid Pathways Program is designed to support and strengthen the leadership impact of Medicaid agency staff who are new to executive leadership roles or aspire to more senior positions. These individuals serve as the backbone of their organizations, sharing responsibility for critical decision-making and providing stability through executive leadership transitions. Investing in the development of these leaders is key to creating a successful pipeline of future program executives capable of transforming agency culture, policy, and practice across Medicaid programs nationwide.
“Investing in the growth of Medicaid leaders across the country is essential,” said Mark Larson, senior vice president at CHCS, former Vermont Medicaid director, and lead faculty for the program. “We’re proud to welcome this new cohort and support their vital efforts to maximize Medicaid’s impact for the communities they serve nationwide.”
The Medicaid Pathways Program offers a unique opportunity for rising Medicaid leaders to grow within a national network of peers. Individuals chosen to participate in the Class of 2026 represent 15 states and bring a wide range of professional and lived experience to their work.
The new cohort includes:
- Autumn Arnold, Director, Bureau of Eligibility and Enrollment Policy, Wisconsin Department of Health Services
- Brad Barron, Director, Managed Care Plan Division, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
- Rachel Calloway, Chief of Staff, Oregon Health Authority
- Bambi Cisneros, Assistant Deputy Director, Managed Care, California Department of Health Care Services
- Melissa Clayton, Associate Director, Medical Health and Policy Development, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
- Stephanie Denning, Deputy Director, Medicaid Operations Office, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing
- Amy Dickson, Benefits Division Director, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing
- Maxine Elliott, Deputy Executive Director, Georgia Medical Assistance Plans Division
- Jermayn Glover, Chief of Staff, Office of Long-Term Living, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
- Holly Heiberg, Policy Director and Fee-for-Services Operations Director, Oregon Health Authority
- Marvin Malohi, Supervising Contracts Specialist, Med-QUEST, Hawai’i Department of Human Services
- Claire Middleton, Director, Chief Advisory Team, Texas Health and Human Services Commission
- Collette Onyejekwe, Pharmacy Director, Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services
- Jeanelle Romero, Bureau Chief, New Mexico Health Care Authority
- Melinda Rossi, Director, Data, Performance, and Reporting, Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services
- Keenan Ryan, Pharmacy Director, New Mexico Health Care Authority
- Joy Soares, Project Director, AHEAD, Med-QUEST, Hawai’i Department of Human Services
- F. Darlene Traffanstedt, Medical Director, Alabama Medicaid
- Uyen Tran, Special Projects Director, Finance, Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services
- Martijn van Beek, Quality Director, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
“Given the enormity of the challenges facing state Medicaid programs, our investment in cultivating a strong leadership pipeline has never been more important,” said Aingyea Fraser, MPA, program officer, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “The skill building and training provided through the Medicaid Pathways Program will help these talented state officials protect health care access and advance critical innovations for Medicaid members across the country.”
During the nine-month program, participants will develop key skills by engaging in leadership training centered on core public sector competencies, receiving individualized coaching and mentoring, exploring best practices in Medicaid leadership, and networking with peers from across the country. With this fifth class, 100 senior Medicaid agency leaders — representing 35 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico — have participated in this leadership training program since its launch in 2021. For more information about the Medicaid Pathways Program, visit https://www.chcs.org/project/medicaid-pathways-programs.
ABOUT THE CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE STRATEGIES
The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) is a policy design and implementation partner devoted to improving outcomes for people enrolled in Medicaid. CHCS supports partners across sectors and disciplines to make more effective, efficient, and equitable care possible for millions of people across the nation. For more information, visit www.chcs.org.
ABOUT THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION
RWJF is a leading national philanthropy dedicated to taking bold leaps to transform health in our lifetime. Through funding, convening, advocacy, and evidence-building, we work side-by-side with communities, practitioners, and institutions to get to health equity faster and pave the way together to a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right. Learn more at www.rwjf.org.
