Michael Ward Joins Alliance for Aging Research as Director of Public Policy

Ward brings extensive experience in policy development, advocacy, and research in the membership association, for-profit, and consulting sectors

WASHINGTON, June 24, 2020– Today the Alliance for Aging Research (Alliance) is pleased to announce that respected health policy leader Michael Ward, MS, has joined the organization as its Director of Public Policy.

Ward brings to the Alliance more than 11 years of experience in partnering with leading health systems, trade associations, and nonprofit organizations to advance healthcare policy that addresses critically important health, research, and regulatory issues.

“Michael brings to the Alliance an exceptional background of in-depth subject matter expertise, an inclusive partnership mindset, and the ability to bring people together from various stakeholder communities to connect on complex policy issues,” says Susan Peschin, MHS, Alliance president and CEO. “The Alliance is delighted to have him join us at this critical time to help us expand our efforts to improve healthy aging.”

Ward comes to the Alliance from Premier, Inc., where he led regulatory advocacy to shape emerging provider payment models and physician payment policy. Ward was responsible for providing input to federal agencies such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding proposed actions, engaging external stakeholders, and translating federal regulation to communicate anticipated impacts on Premier’s members.

Prior to his time at Premier, Ward led advocacy research efforts as the Senior Associate Director, Policy, at the American Hospital Association (AHA). At the AHA, he leveraged data and research to spotlight the essential role of health systems in maintaining the health of communities. Ward spearheaded multiple landmark studies on regulatory reform, prescription drug costs, and the adoption of health information technology that continued the AHA’s legacy as a pre-eminent thought leader in healthcare.

Throughout his career, Ward has used his knowledge of the ever-changing healthcare landscape to advance meaningful policy reform that promotes patient health, spurs progress in care delivery, ensures access to care, and more.

“The Alliance for Aging Research is well respected for its far-reaching and impactful initiatives that improve health and promote dignity as we age,” said Ward. “I look forward to contributing to the Alliance’s essential work of promoting research and innovation in age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, sarcopenia, and heart valve disease while advancing broader reform that addresses inequities in healthcare outcomes.”

Ward holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Religious Studies from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Science degree in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University. Ward is also the former president of the National Technology Student Association (TSA) Alumni Association, a member-based organization supporting STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education and leadership opportunities for middle and high school students.

About the Alliance for Aging Research
The Alliance for Aging Research is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the pace of scientific discoveries and their application to vastly improve the universal human experience of aging and health. The Alliance believes advances in research help people live longer, happier, more productive lives and reduce healthcare costs over the long term. For more than 30 years, the Alliance has guided efforts to substantially increase funding and focus for aging at the National Institutes of Health and Food and Drug Administration; built influential coalitions to guide groundbreaking regulatory improvements for age-related diseases; and created award-winning, high-impact educational materials to improve the health and well-being of older adults and their family caregivers. For more information, visit www.agingresearch.org

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