Natalie provides executive leadership for CommonHealth ACTION and is the primary architect of its nationally recognized Equity, Diversity and Inclusion frameworks. An acclaimed public health leader and “equity evangelist,” Natalie helps leaders and organizations understand the root causes of health inequities, and how they can improve public health outcomes through partnerships, community-building and policy. A master facilitator, Natalie creates space for “constructive discomfort” that sparks meaningful individual and institutional change.
Her extensive background in public health includes technical assistance and capacity-building for community-based organizations, foundations, universities and medical schools, large corporations, and local, state and federal government. Prior to co-founding CommonHealth ACTION in 2004, Natalie was in executive leadership at the National Association of County and City Health Officials. There, she managed the National Turning Point Initiative, which strengthened public health infrastructure by engaging state and local stakeholders not previously involved in public health, like businesses, educators, and faith communities.
A recipient of numerous national fellowships for her visionary public health and nonprofit leadership, Natalie co-authored a chapter in the second edition of Tackling Health Inequities through Public Health Practice (Oxford University Press, 2010), and co-directs the Culture of Health Leaders National Program Center, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Natalie graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Government and Politics.