Delaware Healthcare Association hires population health director, expands team

The Delaware Healthcare Association recently announced key team updates. A leading voice in healthcare advocacy, DHA works collaboratively with federal, state, and local policymakers and partners to champion solutions that strengthen healthcare in the First State.

DHA has hired Adrienne Wallace as its director of population health to partner with its members and policymakers on efforts to improve health outcomes, advance health equity, and strengthen partnerships that support Delaware’s patients and communities. Wallace is an accomplished public health professional who begins her new role in October.

With the hiring of Phylicia Edmonds as DHA’s administrative coordinator, and other personnel hired earlier this year, the Delaware Healthcare Association has officially doubled the size of its team.

In addition to strategic management of population health initiatives, Wallace will lead DHA’s clinical and population health-related councils, including its new Health Equity Council, along with serving as DHA representative on applicable external workgroups. She has a degree in biology and women’s studies from the University of Delaware and a double master of public health degree from the University of Pennsylvania in occupational and environmental health, and epidemiology. Her career has spanned government and hospital systems with roles such as senior health planner for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and research and program developer for St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia.

She later served as a government relations and compliance research and policy analyst for Health Partners Plans, and a senior epidemiologist/research associate for the Nemours Children’s Hospital Office of Health Equity and Inclusion. In this role, she focused on introducing minority youth to STEM careers through real-time research. Wallace also served as vice president of community engagement and wellness for the Community Education Building in Wilmington, where she worked to establish a comprehensive health and wellness center for more than 1,000 students. She currently leads a healthcare consulting firm focused on statistics, policy and quality improvement.

“Adrienne has an unmatched dedication to community and a vision to eliminate health disparities and inequities, and improve the quality of life for future generations. She brings extensive experience and passion to our organization and has a proven track record of building programs that are supporting population health goals. We are excited to welcome her to the DHA team,” said Brian Frazee, Delaware Healthcare Association president and CEO.

As administrative coordinator, Edmonds supports the DHA mission to advance healthcare in Delaware through advocacy, policy leadership and member engagement. She provides high-level administrative and operational support to DHA’s leadership team and staff, ensuring the smooth execution of internal processes, meetings and external communications. Edmonds holds a degree in health education with a concentration in public health from Montclair State University and a master’s degree in wellness and lifestyle management from Rowan University.

“With expertise in clinical and home health settings as well as experience in association services, Phylicia is a critical member of our team,” Frazee said. “We are so excited for all we can accomplish to make Delaware first in health, and that starts with enhancing our internal operations and management. Phylicia has hit the ground running to ensure DHA’s logistics and communications are efficient and streamlined. Over the past two years, we have worked tirelessly to usher DHA into a new era of innovation, collaboration and excellence. With our new director of population health and other members of the DHA team in place, we are ready to take our mission and vision to the next level.”

View DHA’s current team members at deha.org.