News Releases

The Center for Health Affairs Announces New Board Directors, Formation of New Committees

Additional Committees Created to Advance Strategic Organizational Initiatives

The Center for Health Affairs and its subsidiaries announce the creation of four new committees and the addition of new leaders to its boards. These distinguished individuals — hailing from hospital and community organizations in Northeast Ohio — will support the organization’s mission of bringing together partners through innovation to positively impact the communities it serves.

“On behalf of The Center, I am immensely proud of the formation of the new committees and the well-respected board members we have assembled to join us,” said Jill Dietrich Mellon, JD, MBA, FACHE, executive director & CEO of Veteran Affairs Northeast Ohio Healthcare System and chair of The Center for Health Affairs Board of Directors. “I want to extend my sincerest gratitude to our dedicated directors for generously offering their time and expertise to our organization. Their profound knowledge, strategic vision, and valuable insights will be instrumental in driving our mission forward and ensuring we make a lasting impact on the communities we serve.”

The new committees of The Center for Health Affairs Board are designed to leverage the strengths and expertise of the talented leaders comprising the boards by providing leadership and advisory support in key strategic areas:

Corporate Compliance & Audit Committee – Composed of members of the Executive and Compensation Committee, this committee will ensure the organization adheres to legal and ethical standards, focusing on security training and audits, in alignment with governance policies. Valda Clark Christian, JD, senior vice president, chief ethics & compliance officer, Ohio Health, will serve as committee chair for a two-year term.

Human Resources & Workforce Committee – With Ralph Dise, MBA, founder, Dise & Company serving as chair for a two-year term, this committee will develop healthcare workforce initiatives to support hospitals and the broader healthcare community.

Marketing & Communications Committee: This committee will enhance communication with the market, encouraging board members to contribute to The Center’s overall voice and messaging. Julie Jacono, MBA, CEO, JumpStart Inc., will serve as committee chair for a two-year term.

In addition, structural changes are being made to the Community Health Affairs Board of Directors, which oversees the 501(c)(6) subsidiary of The Center for Health Affairs, which itself is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Moving forward, the Community Health Affairs Board will function as the Programming & Community Outreach Committee of The Center’s Board. This committee will be led by Joy Johnson, MPA, executive director, Burton, Bell, Carr Development, Inc, who has served as chair of the Community Health Affairs Board and has been named chair of the Programming & Community Outreach Committee for a two-year term.

With this change, The Center for Health Affairs Board of Directors will increase its number of board seats from 17 to 25 in order to incorporate the new Programming & Community Outreach Committee. Together, these changes streamline organizational governance processes and reduce administrative complexity by consolidating board oversight.

The Center for Health Affairs Board also approved the addition of two new directors: Christine Alexander-Rager, MD, president & CEO, MetroHealth, and Michael J. Goar, president and CEO, Sisters of Charity Health System.

In addition, new appointments and a term extension have been made to the other two organizational boards:

• Allison Witt Poulios, MPA, senior vice president & chief government relations officer, MetroHealth, has been named to the Community Health Affairs Board of Directors.
• The Board of Directors of HealthComp, Inc., dba CHAMPS, has extended the term of Chris McKenna, MBA, managing partner at Carleton McKenna & Company and the current HealthComp Board chair, and approved the nomination of Sandeep Palakodeti, MD, MPH, president and founder of DSP Health, to serve as the board’s vice chair.

“Each of these new and returning directors enhances our organization, reflecting our dedication to maintaining a dynamic and impactful board,” said Brian Lane, president & CEO of The Center for Health Affairs and CHAMPS. “Our outstanding group of directors, combined with the establishment of four new committees, will play a pivotal role in advancing our organizational goals in 2025 and beyond.”

About the Directors and Committee Chairs:

Christine Alexander-Rager, MD, is president & CEO of MetroHealth. Her experience includes more than 27 years of advancing patient care and championing community health. She has held pivotal roles, including interim chief physician and clinical executive, chair of family medicine, and president of the medical staff. Dr. Alexander-Rager is a graduate of The Ohio State University and founder of MetroHealth’s nationally recognized School Health Program.

Valda Clark Christian, JD, is senior vice president, chief ethics & compliance officer for Ohio Health. In this role, she oversees the Corporate Ethics and Compliance program and Internal Audit function. Her career includes leadership roles at University Hospitals Health System in Cleveland and MedStar Health in Maryland. She is a graduate of Williams College and Yale Law School.

Ralph Dise, MBA, is founder and retired president of Dise & Company, a trusted advisory firm specializing in executive recruiting, career transition, leadership coaching, and organizational development. Under his leadership, Dise & Company has earned multiple accolades, including six Weatherhead 100 Awards.

Michael J. Goar is the president and CEO of Sisters of Charity Health System. He leads the Cleveland-based Catholic nonprofit with a focus on building a health and healing hub in Cleveland’s central neighborhood. Goar’s 25 years in nonprofit and education leadership include serving as CEO of Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters. He holds a Master of Public Administration from Mankato State University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration and urban studies from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls.

Julie Jacono, MBA, is the CEO of JumpStart Inc. and its investing arm, JumpStart Ventures. In this role, she leverages JumpStart’s 20-year legacy to drive innovation and economic development across Ohio. She completed Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program and holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Case Western Reserve University and an MBA from Weatherhead School of Management.

Joy Johnson, MPA, is the executive director of Burton, Bell, Carr Development, Inc., a nonprofit community development corporation dedicated to empowering citizens and revitalizing underserved neighborhoods on Cleveland’s east side. She holds a bachelor's degree in communication arts from Allegheny College and a Master of Public Administration with a nonprofit management certificate from Cleveland State University.

Chris McKenna, MBA, is managing partner at Carleton McKenna & Co. Previously, McKenna was the director of financial analysis with the MacLean-Fogg Company in Chicago and was an associate with the investment banking firm of Rodman & Renshaw in New York. He received his Bachelor of Arts in economics from Dartmouth College and his master’s in business administration with high distinction from the University of Michigan Business School.

Sandeep Palakodeti, MD, MPH, is president and founder of DSP Health, a strategic healthcare consulting firm that works with early-stage startups to bring innovative care models and technologies to market. He also practices clinically as the co-founder and chief medical officer of Rebel Health Alliance. Dr. Palakodeti’s experience includes serving as a hospital-based physician at Mayo Clinic, and as chief clinical design officer at CareMore Health.

Allison Witt Poulios, MPA, is senior vice president & chief government relations officer for MetroHealth. In this role, she oversees the federal, state, and local government relations strategy for the hospital system and advises MetroHealth leadership to effectively respond to and shape legislation and public policy that could impact the organization. She has more than 20 years of experience in state and local government and most recently served as chief of staff to an Ohio member of Congress. Poulios received a master’s degree in public administration from Ohio University and a bachelor's degree from Wittenberg University.