Elaine F H Chhean joined NASHP in June 2021 as Special Assistant to the Executive Director. In this role she supports the Executive Director on strategy, special projects, and coordination across teams and with external partners. In addition, she works with NASHP's teams on projects relating to social determinants of health, health equity, Medicaid, and behavioral health. Prior to joining NASHP, Elaine provided technical assistance to state health policy leaders as part of the National Governors Association, Center for Best Practices and the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy. Elaine began her career at Maryland's Medicaid agency, working on behavioral health policy. Elaine has a Master of Public Health from the University of Maryland, where she also worked in the Dean's office, and has a BS in Biological Sciences and BA in Cultural Anthropology from UMBC.