District Of Columbia 2023-2024 Regular Session

District Of Columbia Council Bill PR25-1050 Compare Versions

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Old	New		Differences
1		-	ENROLLED ORIGINAL
	1	+	MURIEL BOWSER
	2	+	MAYOR
	3	+	October 2
	4	+	8, 2024
	5	+	The Honorable Phil Mendelson
	6	+	Chairman
	7	+	Council of the District of Columbia
	8	+	John A. Wilson Building
	9	+	1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 504
	10	+	Washington, DC 20004
	11	+	Dear Chairman Mendelson:
	12	+	In accordance with section 2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-
	13	+	142; D.C. Official Code § 1-523.01), and pursuant to section 4 of the Health
	14	+	Services Planning Program
	15	+	R
	16	+	e-Establishment Act of 1996, effective April 9, 1997 (D.C. Law 11-191; D.C. Official Code § 44-
	17	+	403), I am pleased to nominate the following individual:
	18	+	Ms. Ruth Fisher Pollard
	19	+	Finchingfield Way
	20	+	Upper Marlboro, MD 20774
	21	+	(Maryland Resident)
	22	+	for appointment as a representative of an incorporated association of health care facilities in the District
	23	+	member of the Statewide Health Coordinating Council, replacing Jacqueline Bowens, for the remainder
	24	+	of an unexpired term to end February 11, 2026.
	25	+	Enclosed, you will find biographical information detailing the experience of the above-mentioned
	26	+	nominee, together with a proposed resolution to assist the Council during the confirmation process.
	27	+	I would appreciate the Council’s earliest consideration of this nomination for confirmation. Please
	28	+	do not hesitate to contact me, or Steven Walker, Director, Mayor’s Office of Talent and
	29	+	Appointments, should the Council require additional information.
	30	+	Sincerely,
	31	+	Muriel Bowser
	32	+	Mayor 1
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	67	+	A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
	68	+	~~~
	69	+	.efiairman PhilMendelson
	70	+	at the request
	71	+	of the Mayor
	72	+	IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
	73	+	To confirm the appointment
	74	+	of Ruth Fisher Pollard to the Statewide Health Coordinating
	75	+	Council.
	76	+	RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
	77	+	resolution may be cited as the "Statewide Health Coordinating Council Ruth Fisher Pollard
	78	+	Confirmation Resolution
	79	+	of 2024".
	80	+	Sec.
	81	+	2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the appointment of:
	82	+	Ruth Fisher Pollard
	83	+	Finchingfield Way
	84	+	Upper Marlboro, MD 2077 4
	85	+	(Maryland Resident)
	86	+	as a representative
	87	+	of an incorporated association of health care facilities in the District member
	88	+	of the Statewide Health Coordinating Council, established by section 4 of the Health Services
	89	+	Planning Program Re-Establishment Act
	90	+	of 1996, effective April 9, 1997 (D.C. Law 11-191;
	91	+	D.C. Official
	92	+	Code§ 44-403), replacing Jacqueline Bowens, for the remainder of an unexpired
	93	+	term to end February 11, 2026.
	94	+	Sec.
	95	+	3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
	96	+	upon its adoption, to the nominee and to the Office
	97	+	of the Mayor.
	98	+	Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately. Ruth Fisher Pollard \| Page 1
	99	+	Ruth Fisher Pollard, MS, MBA, FABC
	100	+	Professional Summary
	101	+	Executive leader who catalyzes people, resources and processes to drive change and innovation. Demonstrated
	102	+	experience in strategic planning and execution, program and service line development and business operations, policy
	103	+	research, fundraising, and community and board engagement. Progressive levels of leadership experience in public and
	104	+	private non-profit sectors serving diverse populations. Particular strengths in aligning organization’s mission and services
	105	+	with needs of the community to deliver on business goals. Skilled facilitator with C-suite presence and passion for
	106	+	developing top talent, co-creating an inclusive and equitable culture.
	107	+	Professional History
	108	+	DC Primary Care Association \| DC Connected Care Network 2024-PRESENT
	109	+	DC Primary Care Association is a nonprofit advocacy org anization with a mission to sustain community health centers,
	110	+	advance racial and health equity , and transform DC care delivery. The DC Connected Care Network (DC CCN) is a clinically
	111	+	integrated network of federally qualified health centers with a mission to increase quality and decrease cost, therefore,
	112	+	improving the value of care in the District of Columbia.
	113	+	President and Chief Executive Officer \| Execut
	114	+	ive Director
	115	+	•Serves as the chief executive for the DCPCA and DC CCN organizations with primary responsibility of managing $8
	116	+	million in assets
	117	+	.
	118	+	•Spearheads DCPCA’s and DC CCN’ s strategic direction, collaborating with the Board, senior team, and key stakeholders
	119	+	to set and achieve goals aligned with the respective organization’s mission, vision, and values, resulting in measurabl
	120	+	e
	121	+	improvements in community health outcomes.
	122	+	•Builds and maintains authentic relationships with key stakeholders, including District of Columbia Government and
	123	+	community organizations.
	124	+	DEVELOPING FAMILIES CENTER 2020 – 2023
	125	+	Developing Families Center is a small, private operating foundation with a legacy mission of improving maternal and
	126	+	infant health outcomes through evidenced- based midwifery model of care.
	127	+	Executive Director
	128	+	(Part-time)
	129	+	•Served as the chief executive for the organization as designated by the Board of Directors with primary responsibility
	130	+	of managing $7 million in assets, sustaining relationships, and executing Vision 2023.
	131	+	•Developed and implemented framework to launch strategic process of engagement for community investment,
	132	+	donor cultivation and fundraising strategy, and a community- led leadership council.
	133	+	•Led design of community assessment to inform prioritized areas of impact for $5 million grant fund.
	134	+	•Identified innovative community initiatives for funding to catalyze investments in historically economically distressed
	135	+	communities.
	136	+	•Managed $10 million real estate purchase and sales agreement. Ruth Fisher Pollard \| Page 2
	137	+	PINNACLE NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC (DBA PINNACLE SOLUTIONS) 2019-2023
	138	+	Pinnacle Solutions is a small, minority- owned management and technology firm providing sustainable IT and
	139	+	management solutions.
	140	+	Management Con
	141	+	sultant and Partner (Part-time)
	142	+	• Strategically repositioned the firm to focus on three primary business service lines.
	143	+	• Onboarded three senior professionals to design and implement business processes, lead service lines, and govern
	144	+	operational functions.
	145	+	• Secured consulting contracts valued at $500,000.00.
	146	+	• Provided management consulting services to the District of Columbia Hospital Association (DCHA):
	147	+	o Secured public and private grant funding for workforce development programs and projects,
	148	+	o Led establishment of citywide sector-based workforce development alliance with more than 60 partners,
	149	+	and
	150	+	o Developed annual report of strategic recommendations to inform public investments in workforce training
	151	+	and education for high-school career ready and adult learners.
	152	+
	153	+	PROVIDENCE HEALTH SYSTEM, ASCENSION 2014 – 2019
	154	+	Ascension Providence Health System served all populations with spiritually centered, holistic care to sustain and improve
	155	+	the health of individuals and communities.
	156	+	Vice President an
	157	+	d Chief Strategy Officer / Hospital System Advocacy Leader (2017 – 2019)
	158	+	• Served on the President/CEO core team overseeing strategy, advocacy, and community health programs for health
	159	+	system.
	160	+	• Engaged hospital leadership and governance board to develop integrated strategic, operational, and financial annual
	161	+	plan budgeted at $200 million (operating revenue) for hospital system, including collaboration with foundation
	162	+	leadership to support strategic priorities at approximately 25% of annual budget.
	163	+	• Led, coached, and developed senior staff to achieve system and departmental goals, professionally develop, and
	164	+	advance the mission and vision of the organization. Served as a mentor to management staff to champion professional
	165	+	advancement.
	166	+	• Negotiated multi-year $3 million contractual agreement to operate a university’s student health center staffed with
	167	+	primary care providers and clinicians. Expanded contract to include behavior health services; reduced operations
	168	+	costs; and increased revenues with net zero cost to partners.
	169	+	• Developed and operationalized strategy to implement a value-based, per member per month (PMPM) primary care
	170	+	program with local Medicaid department at approximately $400,000.00 per year for 3- year contractual period for
	171	+	attribution of 3,000+ patients. Primary care coordination program named best practice by local Medicaid department.
	172	+	• Planned and executed service line growth strategies including new tele-behavioral health program for owned primary
	173	+	care practices and skilled nursing facility. Expanded ophthalmology services for affiliated practices.
	174	+	• Led multiple operations cost centers with combined annual operating budget of $20 million and staff of 75 including
	175	+	licensed independent practitioners.
	176	+	• Provided governance leadership to joint venture board in execution of a multi-year $16 million risk-based contract for
	177	+	occupational and ancillary medical services of 6,000 members with approximately 64,000 client encounters per year.
	178	+	• Appointed Executive Director to the District of Columbia Hospital Association (DCHA) and Ascension contractual
	179	+	alliance to assess workforce development needs in the local healthcare industry.
	180	+	• Developed a business plan and strategic framework with identified funding collaborators, partners and potential
	181	+	corporate donors budgeted at $3 million annually for a citywide healthcare workforce development initiative to
	182	+	address the low unemployment and high turnover rate of non-licensed, clinical career positions in 13 hospitals/health
	183	+	systems.
	184	+	Assistant VP, Community Health Network & Government Relations/Hospital System Strategy Lead (2014 – 2017)
	185	+	• Led Providence Health System’s community investment strategy including community health needs assessment,
	186	+	implementation plan and annual community benefit report.
	187	+	• Developed and implemented the health system’s advocacy plan in support of business goals, including crafting
	188	+	proactive legislative and community engagement strategies for a range of issues. Engaged in the rulemaking and
	189	+	regulatory processes to offer change in final versions of laws and policies.
	190	+	• Expanded access within community health partnerships, notably with three local federally qualified health centers
	191	+	(FQHC) by negotiating addition of outpatient infectious disease, obstetric and podiatric physician services and physical
	192	+	therapy.
	193	+	Ruth Fisher Pollard \| Page 3
	194	+	CHILDREN’S NATIONAL HOSPITAL 2004 – 2014
	195	+	Children’s National is a nationally ranked pediatric hospital serving the Washington, DC metropolitan area—provides the
	196	+	spectrum of healthcare services to improve health outcomes for children regionally, nationally and internationally.
	197	+	Executive Direct
	198	+	or of Advocacy & Community Affairs, Government and External Affairs Division (2009 – 2014)
	199	+	•Led all aspects of the division’s $5 million grants and contracts portfolio of programs.
	200	+	•Leveraged clinical research findings to advocate changes such as adding pulse oximetry screening to newborn testing
	201	+	in Maryland and the District of Columbia, and Medicaid reimbursement for licensed independent practitioners (LIPs)
	202	+	to provide preventative oral health services.
	203	+	•Served as key contributor to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical and Translational Science (CTSA) Award
	204	+	Program community engagement grant to develop a community- based web portal, the DC Health Matters
	205	+	(www.dchealthmatters.org).
	206	+	•Authored institutional and departmental strategic plans for advocacy institute, nursing magnet application, school
	207	+	nursing program, regional outreach plans, and community non- profit organizations.
	208	+	•Managed departmental operations including staffing, budgets/cost centers, processes, and products. Partnered with
	209	+	human resources to bring positions to market value; implemented shared platforms to reduce redundancy and gain
	210	+	efficiencies in tracking and reporting; leveraged geographic scope to launch telecommuting policy.
	211	+	•Developed community health education intervention as a non-clinical service line with implementation in satellite
	212	+	emergency department. Program outcomes catalyzed policy discussions to allow certified health education specialist
	213	+	as part of clinical care team.
	214	+	Director, Community Affairs (2006 – 2009)
	215	+	•Provided management oversight of department’s staff and resources in support of organization’s community advocacy
	216	+	and outreach goals. Expanded the department’s reach evidenced by 33% increase in new grant funding, additional
	217	+	professional staff, and documented programmatic outcomes, notably in injury prevention programs.
	218	+	•Led the hospital’s community benefit strategy and implemented objective criterion to assess programs including
	219	+	medical education, charity care, emergency services, and community health centers for eligibility with federal
	220	+	501(c)(3) not-for-profit hospital requirements.
	221	+	•Developed and submitted a school nursing strategic plan to the Council for the District of Columbia Committee on
	222	+	Health to increase local and federal funding from $10 million to $19 million, resulting in 95% full- time school nursing
	223	+	coverage.
	224	+	•Spearheaded and chaired a citywide Pediatric Oral Health Coalition—the first in the District of Columbia— consisting
	225	+	of LIPs, oral health professionals, community-based organizations, and the funding community to drive improvement
	226	+	s
	227	+	in the most common and preventable chronic disease in children—dental caries.
	228	+	•Served as a consultant team leader for the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Regional Oral Health Connection Team establishing
	229	+	a multi- state outreach plan.
	230	+	Manager, Community Affairs (2004 – 2006)
	231	+	•Identified defects in immunization billing process, designed tracking mechanism to capture and analyze data, and worked with government agency to bill back for double payments, recouping taxpayers’ funds.
	232	+	•Implemented rapid business responses to citywide critical health threat in pediatric immunizations through short-
	233	+	term strategic initiatives in community settings. Improved access points in primary care systems infrastructure; immunization compliance rate maintained at high 90 percent.
	234	+	•Anticipated enterprise threat to organization’s not-for- profit tax-exempt status and developed issue papers to brief
	235	+	executive leadership and governing board of directors, resulting in financial allocation of operating funds and
	236	+	repositioning of staffing resources to effect solutions. Ruth Fisher Pollard \| Page 4
	237	+	DC HEALTH, GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 2000 – 2004
	238	+	Community Health Administration
	239	+	DC Health promotes and safeguards health, wellness and equity of residents, businesses, and visitors across the District.
	240	+	The Community Health Administration promotes healthy behaviors and environments to improve health outcomes.
	241	+	Supervisory Public
	242	+	Health Advisor/Assistant Chief of Program Operations
	243	+	• Provided direct programmatic and financial oversight, implementation, and management of a $12 million federal
	244	+	contract for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children (WIC).
	245	+	• Assessed administrative policies and procedures of the DC WIC Program against cultural appropriateness. Designed a
	246	+	process of review and re-wrote 1,000+ page policies and procedures for cultural inclusivity respective of diverse family
	247	+	traditions and nutritional preferences.
	248	+	• Developed public- private partnerships with local farmers’ markets and grocery stores to expand access to healthy food
	249	+	choices, create growth opportunities in supply and demand, and improve customer service ratings through multi-
	250	+	language and culturally inclusive promotions and marketing.
	251	+	Education & Related Training
	252	+	• Master of Business Administration (2007), University of Maryland Global Campus
	253	+	• Master of Science Healthcare Administration (2006), University of Maryland Global Campus
	254	+	• Bachelor of Arts (1995), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
	255	+	• Healthcare Fellow (2015), The Advisory Board Company
	256	+	Professional Affiliations and Boards
	257	+	• Cedar Hills Alliance for Health Equity, Member (2023 – Present)
	258	+	• Georgetown University, School of Health, Adjunct Instructor (2019 – Present)
	259	+	• Capella University School of Nursing and Health Sciences Advisory Board, Member (2018 – Present)
	260	+	• Volunteers of America Chesapeake and Carolinas Board of Directors, Chair (2016 – 2023)
	261	+	Executive Office of the Mayor – Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments
	262	+	John A. Wilson Building \| 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 600 \| Washington, DC 20004
2	263
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5		-	A RESOLUTION
6	266
7		-	~~25-764~~
	267	+	Ruth Pollard
8	268
9		-	IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
10		-
11		-	December 17, 2024
12		-
13		-	To confirm the appointment of Ms. Ruth Fisher Pollard to the Statewide Health Coordinating
14		-	Council.
15		-
16		-	RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
17		-	resolution may be cited as the “Statewide Health Coordinating Council Ruth Fisher Pollard
18		-	Confirmation Resolution of 2024”.
19		-
20		-	Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the appointment of:
21		-
22		-	Ms. Ruth Fisher Pollard
23		-	Finchingfield Way
24		-	Upper Marlboro, MD 20774
25		-
26		-	as a representative of an incorporated association of health care facilities in the District member
27		-	of the Statewide Health Coordinating Council, established by section 4 of the Health Services
28		-	Planning Program Re-establishment Act of 1996, effective April 9, 1997 (D.C. Law 11-191;
29		-	D.C. Official Code § 44-403), for a term to end February 11, 2026.
30		-
31		-	Sec. 3. The Council shall transmit a copy of this resolution, upon its adoption, to the
32		-	nominee and to the Mayor.
33		-
34		-	Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
	269	+	Ms. Ruth Pollard is an accomplished executive leader currently serving
	270	+	as the President and CEO of the DC Primary Care Association
	271	+	(DCPCA), where she spearheads transformative initiatives to align
	272	+	organizational objectives with community needs, enhancing the
	273	+	landscape of primary healthcare services in the District of Columbia.
	274	+	She also serves as the Executive Director of the DC Connected Care
	275	+	Network (DC CCN), a clinically integrated network of the DCPCA and
	276	+	Federally Qualified Health Centers with a mission to increase quality
	277	+	and decrease cost, improving the value of care in the District of
	278	+	Columbia.
	279	+	With a robust career spanning diverse and progressive roles, Ms. Pollard's public health journey
	280	+	commenced at the DC Department of Health (DC Health), where she served as a Supervisory
	281	+	Public Health Advisor and Assistant Chief of Program Operations for the Women, Infants, and
	282	+	Children (WIC) Program. Building on her longstanding commitment to community health and
	283	+	advocacy, her influence extended to more than a decade- long tenure at Children's National
	284	+	Hospital. At Children’s, Ms. Pollard held various roles, culminating in her appointment as
	285	+	Executive Director of Advocacy and Community Affairs. In the last ten years, her leadership
	286	+	journey included a significant tenure as the Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at
	287	+	Providence Hospital (Washington, DC), the Executive Director of the DC Developing Families
	288	+	Center, and as a healthcare consultant. Aligned with her executive role and driven by her passion
	289	+	for advancement through education, she is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University, School
	290	+	of Health and a member of the Capella University School of Nursing and Health Sciences Advisory
	291	+	Board.
	292	+	A Maryland resident, Ms. Pollard earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and
	293	+	Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her Master of Business
	294	+	Administration and Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from the University of
	295	+	Maryland. GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
	296	+	Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser
	297	+	Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor
	298	+	______________________________________________________________________________
	299	+	The John A. Wilson Building • 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW • Suite 300 • Washington, D.C. 20004 • Office (202) 724-7681
	300	+	To: Kimberly A. Bassett, Steve Walker
	301	+	From: Betsy Cavendish
	302	+	Date: October 21, 2024
	303	+	Subject: Legal sufficiency review of a resolution appointing Ruth Fisher Pollard as a
	304	+	member of the Statewide Health Coordinating Council
	305	+	This is to Certify that this office has reviewed the above-referenced Order and found
	306	+	it to be legally unobjectionable. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not hesitate
	307	+	to call Michael Porcello, Deputy General Counsel, Executive Office of the Mayor, at 202-727-
	308	+	0872, or me at 202-724-7681.
	309	+	______________________________
	310	+	Elizabeth Cavendish