THCC supporters:
This month has already brought many reasons for thanks...the election of an administration that will seek to broaden and improve health insurance coverage, the promise of effective vaccines to help protect healthcare workers, essential workers, our most vulnerable citizens from COVID-19 within the coming months, and all of us in coming year. We'd like to add one more...the selection of a new Executive Director for THCC!
_________________________________________
On behalf of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign Board of Directors, it is our sincere pleasure to introduce the new Executive Director for the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, Judy Roitman.
We had an excellent, deep field of over 20 candidates from across the state who applied for the position, and we thank each of them for honoring THCC with their interest in sharing their skills and vision with us.
As you can see from Judy's letter of acceptance, reprinted below, she brings to the role a wide range of experience, including as executive director for non-profit grassroots agencies like ours. She also shares a deep and personal commitment to health care justice issues. She has served THCC as a volunteer enrollment assister, active advocate, and Board member over many years and knows our organizational strengths, challenges, and potential.
Please join us in welcoming Judy!
Randall Rice, President Clare Sullivan, Interim Director
THCC Board of Directors THCC
_________________________________________
From Judy Roitman's acceptance letter to the THCC Board of Directors:
It is with tremendous excitement that I accept the position of Executive Director of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign.
We face enormous challenges. Over 680,000 Tennesseans are uninsured in the midst of a raging pandemic. Rural hospitals are closing their doors, leaving big gaps in urgent services. Health disparities contribute to tragic results, as demonstrated by Tennessee’s high maternal mortality rates. And many Tennessee families flounder under skyrocketing medical debt.
These problems are personal to me. As a health care social worker, I am confronted on a daily basis with our broken health care policy and its effects on poor and underserved Tennesseans. The hardest part is knowing things do not have to be this way. We can, and must, do better.
I bring to this effort a career in non-profit management and health care advocacy. My oldest friends know that I moved to Tennessee 40 years ago to organize health care workers with Service Employees International Union. Since that time, I have worked to improve women’s health, erase HIV stigma, increase vaccination rates, promote organ donation and connect people to the resources and insurance they need. My resume includes Summit Medical, the Knox County Health Department, The National Kidney Foundation and Planned Parenthood.
I have volunteered with THCC from the initial advocacy to pass the Affordable Care Act, through the push to enroll in underserved communities and the fight for TennCare expansion. The small group of committed individuals across the State are an inspiration to me. I am looking forward to working with you, and to expanding our movement for quality, affordable health care across Tennessee.
In Solidarity,
Judy Roitman
