NEW YORK, NY—November 17, 2020—United Hospital Fund has named Alexandra Brandes as the new director of its Medicaid Institute, Susan Olivera as senior program manager for its Children’s Health Initiative, and Kristina Ramos-Callan as senior program manager for its clinical-community partnership programs.
Alexandra Brandes joined UHF in November from Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, where she served in various roles, including policy and advocacy manager, supervising attorney, and health care and elder care fellow. She holds a Master of Public Health from Tulane University School of Public Health and a Juris Doctor from Tulane School of Law.
UHF’s Medicaid Institute provides information and analyses examining New York’s Medicaid program in an effort to help public officials and other stakeholders build a more effective health care system for low-income New Yorkers.
Susan Olivera joined UHF in June to manage the new Pediatrics for an Equitable Developmental Start (PEDS) Learning Network, part of UHF’s Children’s Health Initiative. Previously Ms. Olivera worked at the American Cancer Society, where she built strategic alliances with major health systems and was committed to ensuring high-quality and equitable access to cancer care and prevention for underserved populations. She also has a strong background in pediatrics and maternal and child health, having worked at Children's Aid Society, Public Health Solutions, and the William F. Ryan Community Health Center. She holds a Master’s in Public Health in Policy and Management from New York Medical College.
Kristina Ramos-Callan has been promoted to senior program manager and will continue her work fostering clinical-community partnerships in the health care delivery system to address the social determinants of health. She joined UHF in 2007 and was previously a program manager and author or co-author of numerous UHF reports, including the recent COVID-19 Ripple Effect: The Impact of COVID-19 on Children in New York State. She holds a Master of Arts in urban studies from the City University of New York School of Labor and Urban Studies and is a 2020 recipient of the school’s Distinguished Alumni Award.
“We are very excited by the skills and varied experience that Alexandra Brandes, Susan Olivera, and Kristina Ramos-Callan bring to their new roles at UHF,” said Anthony Shih, MD, President of UHF. “They are all dedicated to improving health and promoting equity, , and we look forward to the contributions they will make as we continue to pursue our mission of building a more effective and equitable health care system for all New Yorkers.”
United Hospital Fund
United Hospital Fund works to build a more effective health care system for every New Yorker. An independent, nonprofit organization, we analyze public policy to inform decision-makers, find common ground among diverse stakeholders, and develop and support innovative programs that improve the quality, accessibility, affordability, and experience of patient care. For more on our initiatives and programs please visit our website at www.uhfnyc.org and follow us on Twitter.