As Health Care for All (HCFA) announced last week, Amy Rosenthal will be stepping down from her position as the Executive Director of HCFA to serve as the Undersecretary of Health for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. Ashley Blackburn has been promoted to HCFA’s Deputy Executive Director, a new and permanent leadership role. She will also serve as Interim Executive Director while the board conducts a national search for an executive director.
For those who might not know Ashley, Hannah Rittman, HCFA’s Special Projects Coordinator, sat down with her to ask her a few questions to help the HCFA community get to know her a bit better.
What inspired you to pursue a career in health policy and advocacy?
I always knew my career would land somewhere in the nonprofit or public service world, but health policy and advocacy really fell into my lap. My first job out of law school was at the Legislative Service Commission in Ohio. There, I served as a staff attorney in the House of Representatives on the Insurance Committee. It so happened that I took this position just after the Affordable Care Act (ACA) passed, and states across the country were grappling with how to implement various provisions of the new law.
In this role, I had a front row seat for many conversations as the state solicited feedback and ideas from health care stakeholders about the best path forward. I was at those meetings wearing a technical hat, but I quickly realized I would rather be there wearing an advocacy hat.
Years later, after I moved to Massachusetts, I made the jump to the advocacy world through a legal fellowship at HCFA! After eight years on the policy team at Community Catalyst, rejoining the HCFA team in 2022 was very much a homecoming for me.
What drives you to continue your work in health care policy and advocacy?
I have been very fortunate in my career to work for incredible health care leaders during pivotal moments in the consumer health advocacy movement. During the early days of ACA implementation, I worked as a technical assistance provider at Community Catalyst, where I learned from consumer advocates across the country. I saw Rob Restuccia jump into action in 2016 and play a critical role in organizing the national response to Congressional efforts to repeal the ACA. And for years I’ve been a witness to Amy’s superpower – building trusted relationships to impact policy change.
As I step into my new role as Deputy Executive Director, my drive to continue this work is fueled by my desire to play a role in preserving the history of HCFA and honoring Rob’s legacy.
Can you share a fun fact about yourself?
No matter how long I live in New England, I’ll always be a Midwesterner at heart! As a graduate of The Ohio State University, Saturdays in the fall are reserved for Ohio State football games – my four and six-year-old sons can both recite the fight song and proudly wear their jerseys to school on Fridays!
Outside of work, what’s something bringing you joy lately?
I’m in my hockey mom era! My oldest son plays on two teams, so we spend our weekends at hockey rinks across Massachusetts. I’m really enjoying learning the sport so that I can keep up with my son!