Alliance Staff
Sarah J. Dash, MPH
President and CEO
Sarah is the president and chief executive officer at the Alliance for Health Policy. She drives the mission and vision of the Alliance, as well as advances and maintains the reputation of the organization as the leading nonpartisan resource for policymakers and health leaders in an evolving health policy environment. Sarah joined the Alliance in 2014 as the vice president for policy and became president and CEO in May 2017. Sarah has long been an influential force in shaping health policy, having served as a senior aide on Capitol Hill and as a member of the research faculty at the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms. Sarah holds a master’s degree in public health from the Yale School of Public Health and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and literature from MIT. Sarah also holds an executive certificate in nonprofit management from Georgetown University.
LinkedIn | Email | Twitter
Kelly J. Appenzeller
Director of Development Operations
Kelly is the director of development operations at the Alliance for Health Policy. They oversee the Alliance’s development efforts and strategic partnerships. They work closely with the president & CEO, advising on stakeholder engagement and management, and business operations. As director, Kelly manages annual revenue for the Alliance and is instrumental in new business development and corporate partnerships. Kelly joined the Alliance in 2015 and served as congressional events and outreach manager before becoming assistant director of external affairs in June 2017. Before the Alliance, Kelly worked in communications and development, beginning their career in public relations on Capitol Hill and working as a summer associate for Curley Company, a Washington D.C. public relations firm. Kelly holds a bachelor’s in history and government from St. Lawrence University.
Marci Borkert
Events and Program Associate
Marci Borkert is the events and program associate at the Alliance for Health Policy. Marci is responsible for event logistics of the many high-quality, informative programmatic events held throughout the year. Prior to the Alliance, Marci worked as the senior annual gift and events officer at Baptist Health Foundation in Little Rock, Arkansas where she built relationships with key stakeholders, coordinated numerous annual fundraising special events, and raised millions of dollars for the hospital system. With over 10 years of development experience, she brings to the Alliance her passion for creating exceptional events and her deep regard for advancing healthcare. Marci earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from Columbus State University.
Aimee Carter
Vice President of Development and Engagement
Aimee Carter is the vice president of development and engagement at the Alliance for Health Policy. She leads efforts to advance the financial foundation and multistakeholder relationships of the Alliance. Working with the president & CEO, she stewards current partnerships, cultivates new relationships and resources, and ensures engagement across stakeholders and communications platforms. She has more than 20 years of experience in corporate and international affairs and leading business development and engagement across many issue areas. Previously, Aimee led development and membership at Business Roundtable and the Council on Foreign Relations and international outreach at AARP. She holds a master’s degree in international relations from Boston University and a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of Virginia. She serves on the board of iMMAP, the advisory council of Global Kids DC and is an alumnus of the International Career Advancement Program (ICAP).
David Elliott
Vice President of Finance and Operations
David is vice president of finance and operations at the Alliance for Health Policy. He manages financial planning, budgeting, and strategy for the Alliance and ensures the seamless day-to-day management of the organization. He serves as primary organizational contact for all grant and contract finances, supports all grant applications and financial reporting of grants, and ensures timely and accurate reporting to funders as well as effective management and compliance with respect to the use of grant dollars. David has nine years of nonprofit management experience including overseeing organizational planning, budgeting, accounting, information technology, regulatory compliance, human resources, special projects, and vendor negotiations and management, as well as grant proposals and reports. Prior to joining the Alliance in April 2019, he served as COO for the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) and its 501(c)4 sister organization, NIAC Action. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science with a business administration minor from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and an executive certificate in nonprofit management from Georgetown University.
Okey Enyia, MPH
Senior Policy Advisor
Okey is the senior policy advisor at the Alliance for Health Policy. In this role, Okey oversees the policy and content development for selected Alliance educational and other programmatic activities; provides subject matter expertise to major grant and sponsorship opportunities; and contributes to the Alliance’s health equity strategy and community/patient engagement initiatives. Most recently, Okey served as a project manager for the District of Columbia Department of Health Care Finance. Prior to that, he served as a management analyst in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and has served as a staffer in the U.S. House of Representatives and on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. Okey holds a master’s degree in public health from Chicago State University and a bachelor’s degree in biology/biochemistry from Lewis University. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in public health with a concentration in health policy from the George Washington University School of Public Health; and gives back to his community as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Alison Jones, MPH
Director of Program Strategy and Management 
Alison is the director of program strategy and management at the Alliance for Health Policy. She leads efforts to strengthen operational efficiency across the Alliance’s programming and advance the organization’s mission to promote solutions-focused dialogue on health policy and health equity issues. Alison oversees the management and execution of program development to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery of events and other strategic goals. Prior to joining the Alliance in 2023, Alison worked in federal advocacy and private philanthropy to advance evidence-based policy to improve access to quality, affordable, and accessible maternal and reproductive health care. Alison brings more of a decade in nonprofit program management experience and previously served on the Board of the D.C. Abortion Fund, where she led the development of the organization’s first-ever monitoring, evaluation, and learning program. Alison holds a masters degree in public health from the George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health with a concentration in health policy and dual bachelor’s degrees in English and Communications from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Christopher Holt
Vice President of Policy
Christopher Holt is the vice president of policy at the Alliance for Health Policy. Chris oversees our policy workstream to ensure our programs are solution-focused, grounded in evidence, and timely for our policy audience. He serves as a bridge between the Alliance and our congressional and executive audiences. Before joining the Alliance, Chris served as the director of health care policy at the American Action Forum (AAF). His op-eds have appeared in publications including Real Clear Policy and The Hill, and his research and perspectives are regularly cited in numerous publications including Politico, Congressional Quarterly, Modern Healthcare, and Bloomberg Law. He is a regular panelist at briefings and policy events and he has provided expert testimony to multiple congressional committees. Prior to AAF, Chris served on Capitol Hill as health policy advisor to Senator Scott Brown (R-MA), Representatives Tim Murphy (R-PA) and Bob Inglis (R-SC), and Senator George Voinovich (R-OH). He began his congressional career with the Senate Special Committee on Aging under then-Chairman Gordon Smith (R-OR). Chris holds a master’s degree in congressional and presidential studies from The Catholic University of America, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Whitman College.
Madeline Pennington
Marketing and Communications Manager
Madeline is the marketing and communications manager at the Alliance for Health Policy. Madeline is responsible for supporting the development and execution of all marketing and communications strategy at the Alliance. Prior to this, she was an Influencer Marketing Manager at Village Marketing: A Wunderman Thompson Company. She also interned at Village Marketing as a Marketing and Business Development Intern prior to her full time role and acted as a Marketing Representative for Warner Music. Madeline holds bachelors’ degrees in media, journalism, and creative writing from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Emma Rossetti
Development and Engagement Associate
Emma is the development and events associate at the Alliance for Health Policy. Emma is responsible for supporting development outreach and event logistics at the Alliance. Prior to this, Emma interned at The American Battlefield Trust and the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. She also served two years as a student fellow with the Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy, and International Affairs at Hofstra University. Emma holds bachelors’ degrees in global studies, geography, and public policy from Hofstra University.
Keena Wallace
Accounting Assistant
Keena is the accounting assistant for the Alliance for Health Policy. Keena processes accounts payable, records accounting transactions, and performs other administrative duties as needed. Keena also handles the Alliance’s external event registration process. She has worked with the Alliance since 2008.
Bailey Wilbanks
Federal Affairs Manager
Bailey is the federal affairs manager at the Alliance for Health Policy. Bailey plays a key role in implementing the federal affairs strategy at the Alliance. Prior to this, Bailey served as the Alliance’s program and research assistant. Before joining the Alliance, Bailey began her career on Capitol Hill for a Texas representative. Prior to her time on the Hill, Bailey also spent time interning for American Public Human Services Association. She holds a bachelor’s degree in community health from Texas A&M University.
Cory Hancock
Special Assistant to the CEO
Cory is the Special Assistant to CEO Sarah Dash at the Alliance for Health Policy. He recently completed his Master of Arts in Ethics, Peace, and Human Rights at American University, concentrating on Climate Change and Human Mobility. He also has a Bachelor’s in Journalism and Emerging Media from Kennesaw State University. Before joining the Alliance, Cory worked as a photographer at the International Monetary Fund and as Assistant Site Director & Program Director at the National Student Leadership Conference.