Contact: Kathleen Nolan

EXPERTISE

Duties: As the Health Division director, Nolan oversees research, policy analysis, technical assistance and project development for all health issues. The division works with states to identify, share and implement best practices on these issues facing states: health care service and cost-containment, long-term care and aging, public health programs and disease management, along with pharmaceutical programs, and regulatory and legal issues impacting health and health care. Nolan's major policy areas include health promotion and disease prevention, disease management, leadership issues, and public health preparedness.

CURRENT PROJECTS

The Health Division is currently focusing on state strategies to address childhood obesity, substance abuse, prescription drug coverage, health information technology and systems, safety-net programs, long-term care reform, maternal and child health, medical malpractice and patient safety, bio-terrorism preparedness, and health leadership and workforce development. The Health division also collaborates with other Center divisions on their efforts, including community design concerns impacting health, social programs issues like child abuse and disability policy, as well as other cross-over priorities

BACKGROUND

Previous Positions: Program Director for Public Health, NGA Center for Best Practices; Senior Director for Prevention Policy, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials; Research Associate, Institute of Medicine; Program Specialist, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; Home Manager, Martin Luther Homes for Children; Program Instructor, Phoenix Alternatives

Education: M.P.H., School of Public Health and Health Services, The George Washington University; B.A., Carleton College

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Nolan, Kathleen, "Making A Difference in Diabetes" (Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO): 2002).*

Nolan, Kathleen, "Making A Difference, The Prevention Block Grant" (Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO): 2001).*

Nolan, Kathleen, "Improving the Quality of Long-Term Care" (Institute of Medicine: 2000).*

Nolan, Kathleen, "Measuring the Quality of Health Care" (Institute of Medicine: 1999).*

Nolan, Kathleen, et al., "Measuring the Quality of Health Care: State of the Art" Journal on Quality Improvement (1997) Vol. 23, No. 5:283-292.*

*The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the National Governors Association or individual governor’s offices.