FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 11, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Health Policy Futures Lab (HPFL) today announced the appointment of its inaugural Board of Directors, bringing together leaders with deep experience in health policy, research, and community engagement to guide the organization in its mission to turn bold ideas into action for a stronger and more resilient health future.
Kristen McGovern, President
Kristen McGovern is a nationally recognized health policy expert who works with decision makers inside and outside government to advance critical policy changes needed to support delivery system transformation, including Medicare payment policy, interoperability, digital health, AI/ML and value-based care. Kristen served as Chief of Staff to the National Coordinator for Health IT at HHS and at the Office of Management and Budget in the Executive Office of the President.
Krista Drobac, Secretary
Krista has three decades of experience in health care policy at the federal and state levels. She was an health advisor in the U.S. Senate at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. She was the Deputy Director of the Illinois Department of Health Care and Family Services and the Health Care Division Director at the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices.
Mark Newsom, Treasurer
Mark brings extensive expertise in Medicare and Medicaid policy, having recently served as Deputy Group Director at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), where he oversaw Medicare Part D, Medicare Advantage Stars, and related payment and data systems. He also led policy teams at Humana, CVS Health, and the Congressional Research Service, and founded Health Evaluations, a consulting firm advising health plans, providers, and investors.
Glen Chambers, Senior Vice President, External Relations, findhelp
Glen has more than two decades of senior leadership in health policy and government affairs, including executive roles at CVS Health, Aetna, and the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association. He previously served as Chief of Staff to U.S. Senators Roy Blunt and Sam Brownback, where he led legislative strategy and political operations.
Eileen Kostanecki, Director of Policy Engagement & External Relations, Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation, University of Michigan
Eileen leads policy engagement for IHPI, one of the nation’s largest university-based health services research institutes, where she connects nearly 800 researchers with policymakers and stakeholders to improve health systems and outcomes. She previously held senior health policy roles with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the State of California’s Health & Human Services Agency and Department of Health Care Services, the State of Michigan House of Representatives, and the State of Michigan’s Washington, D.C. office.
Claudia Williams, Chief Social Impact Officer, UC Berkeley School of Public Health
Claudia is a nationally recognized health innovation leader. She previously served as founding CEO of Manifest MedEx, California’s largest nonprofit health data network, scaling it to reach more than 30 million patients. Earlier, she held senior health technology and innovation roles at the White House, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Markle Foundation, and the Lewin Group.
“We are at a critical moment for health policy,” said Kristen McGovern, HPFL President and Co-Founder. “Our new board members bring the strategic vision and real-world experience needed to ensure HPFL delivers on its mission to drive transformational change.”
HPFL was established to bring together researchers, policymakers, and communities to co-develop solutions that improve health outcomes and create lasting, systemic impact. With the support of its newly appointed Board, HPFL will expand its efforts to fund and disseminate health policy research that can shape federal and state decision-making.
“Our board reflects a remarkable breadth of expertise—from policy and research to innovation and community solutions,” said Krista Drobac, HPFL Co-Founder. “Their leadership will help us accelerate the HPFL’s work in advancing practical, evidence-based solutions that strengthen health systems.”
About the Health Policy Futures Lab
The Health Policy Futures Lab turns bold ideas into action to transform health policy for a stronger and more resilient future. We bring together researchers, policymakers, and communities to develop practical solutions that improve health systems and outcomes.
Learn more at www.healthpolicyfutureslab.org
Media Contact:
Erin Flior
Chief of Staff
eflior@healthpolicyfutureslab.org