Lisa Weichman Harries was placed as the assistant vice president for health equity and policy at the Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA). With offices in Chicago, Naperville, and Springfield, Illinois, and Washington, DC, the IHA represents more than 200 hospitals and nearly 40 health systems, with members ranging from major academic medical centers and teaching hospitals to community hospitals, rural and critical access facilities, and specialty institutions that care for patients in need of behavioral health, long-term care, or rehabilitation services. In addition to advocacy and policy work on behalf of its members, the IHA provides innovative business and performance solutions, services, and tools, and a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs. In her role, Lisa will develop, evaluate, and implement policy proposals and advocacy strategies to address healthcare disparities and inequities in Illinois. She will facilitate and manage IHA initiatives pertaining to the advancement of health equity; analyze and respond to policy proposals and legislation impacting hospitals, health systems, and communities; and effectively communicate IHA positions to IHA leadership, members, and government officials.
Lisa comes to the IHA from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, where she most recently served as director of employee and corporate health operations, charged with leading the hospital’s efforts to address the impact of COVID-19 on its employees, including the operations and policy development of the vaccination mandate. Prior to that role, Lisa was a quality improvement consultant with Rush, co-leading the Birth Equity Steering Committee, which focused on eliminating racial disparities in the delivery of maternal health service; serving on the West Side United Maternal Child Health Workgroup, which focused on care coordination; and leading the healthcare worker COVID-19 operations workgroup for the Hospital Incident Command System.
Previously, Lisa served as a healthcare transformation consultant with Root Inc., as a care access consultant with Huron Consulting Group, and as a community outreach and prevention specialist with Jewish Child and Family Services’ Response Center, a teen social service agency specializing in public health and prevention education.
Lisa holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and psychology from the University of Michigan, a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago, and a master’s degree in health policy, economics, and management from The London School of Economics in England.
Originally from northwestern Indiana, Lisa now resides in Chicago with her husband and three dogs.
QLK’s Roger Quick, Adrienne White-Faines, and Mike Quick led the search to recruit Lisa to the IHA, where her duties will begin January 5, 2022.
