Kimberly A. Haddad, JD, MPH, chief of staff of UMass Medical School’s Commonwealth Medicine division, has been named ’10 to Watch’ in 2015 by MetroWest495 Biz, a publication of the Worcester Business Journal.
The annual list celebrates change makers in the MetroWest region who are leading the area’s most visible organizations. Haddad, who joined Commonwealth Medicine in February, spoke about Commonwealth Medicine and her role within the division in an article and video published May 18.
“I’m helping to lead a dynamic organization that is at the forefront of improving the value of health care in Massachusetts and beyond,” Haddad said. “As chief of staff I work across the enterprise, so I have the opportunity to impact the direction we’re headed.”
Haddad is a health law and policy expert who previously served as both director of health care policy and deputy general counsel at the Massachusetts Executive Office for Administration and Finance. She also was general counsel and health policy advisor to state Sen. Richard T. Moore, assisting him in drafting health care cost containment and quality improvement legislation that would become known as Chapter 224.
Commonwealth Medicine is UMass Medical School’s health care consulting and operations division, and much of its work involves partnering with public agencies and private organizations both in Massachusetts and internationally to improve health care accessibility, delivery and financing. Commonwealth Medicine’s use of data analytics to improve patient care and health care cost effectiveness is one area of growth.
Haddad said effective relationship management, both internal and external, is necessary to be successful.
“Cross collaboration across an organization is an essential way to bring the best ideas forward, and also to help encourage people to feel invested in their work,” she said.
Haddad received her JD degree from Northeastern University School of Law and her MPH from Tufts University School of Medicine. She graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College with a BA degree in political science and a minor in economics.