We envision a country in which health policy is driven by health experts and practitioners grounded in patient outcomes instead of ruled by industry profits.
WHO WE ARE
Members of the Committee’s staff come to the organization with experience in state and federal politics, issue campaigns, and legislative offices. This experience informs the Committee’s health care advocacy and accountability efforts, and inspires their unabashed patient advocacy. We believe that, to move state and federal health care toward massive expansion that covers all persons in the United States, we must educate and hold anti-health care politicians accountable. This work requires a campaign-oriented staff, and the Committee has it.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MONA MANGAT, MD
BOARD CHAIR
Dr. Mona Mangat, M.D, Allergist and immunologist, was inspired to action when she observed that many of her patients in St. Petersburg, Florida, were unable to access and afford the health care they needed. She has become an advocate for health care on a national level while running a private practice and raising four children with her husband. Dr. Mangat graduated from the 6-year combined BS/MD program at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine in 1996 and completed an Internal Medicine / Pediatrics Residency at the University of Tennessee-Memphis / Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center in 2000. Shen then completed an Allergy/Immunology fellowship at Henry Ford Hospital. Dr. Mangat was the former National Board Chair of Doctors for America and is currently serving as a Board Member and the Florida Outreach Coordinator for the Committee to Protect Medicare.
EAN BETT, MD
Ean Bett is a board-certified family medicine physician practicing in Columbus, Ohio. He has been a part of the struggle for universal health care in America, first as a patient, and now as a physician, which has driven his particular interest in achieving universal, affordable, and high-quality health care for all Americans. Ean advocates for his patients by championing appropriate drug pricing, the use and integration of technology in clinical practice to improve outcomes, and a shared vision of American values.
He has participated in advocacy and education around universal health care, Medicare for All, and single payer platforms though several organizations, including the Physicians Action Network, American Academy of Family Physicians, Physicians for a National Health Program, Making Health Care Fair, and National Physicians Alliance. He has been asked to speak on these topics at both local and national conferences to community members and physicians alike.
His clinical practice at Grant Family Medicine Residency, where he spent three years in training before joining the faculty in 2017, focuses on the underserved with a special interest in providing primary care to individuals who also suffer from behavioral health issues. He enjoys teaching students and residents the balance between the art and science of medicine and using shared-decision making to engage his patients in reaching their desired health outcomes.
FARHAN BHATTI, MD
Dr. Bhatti is a board-certified Family Physician and currently serves as CEO of Care Free Medical, a nonprofit clinic that provides medical, dental, and optometry care to underserved and uninsured individuals in the Metro Lansing area. He completed his residency training in Family Medicine at Sparrow Hospital. Prior to that, he graduated from the College of Human Medicine at Michigan State University (MSU). Dr. Bhatti also holds two undergraduate degrees with Honors from MSU, Political Science and Physiology, with a specialization in Bioethics, Humanities, and Society. He is actively involved politically and is especially passionate about health care policy.
RICHARD BRUNO, MD MPH
Dr. Richard Bruno is a family & preventive medicine physician at Chase Brexton Health Care in Baltimore, MD. He has been active in local, state, and national organizations, serving on the board of directors of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the National Physicians Alliance, the American Association of Public Health Physicians, MedChi (the Maryland state medical society), the Maryland Academy of Family Physicians, Sugar Free Kids Maryland, Friends of Hampden School #55, Hampden Family Center, Roland Park Civic League, Wyman Park Community Association, and Physicians for a National Health Program. He has been advocating for Medicare for All since his first year of medical school, organizing rallies and workshops for health justice. His main clinical focuses are the pair of pandemics: obesity and opioids, with involvement in community public health interventions and policies, including sugary drink interventions at local corner-stores and testimony on expansion of medication for opioid use disorder in the Maryland State House. He, his wife and their two children love hiking, biking, and cooking together. He attained a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University, doctorate of medicine from Oregon Health and Science University, and a master of public health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He graduated from the combined Family & Preventive Medicine residency program at Johns Hopkins and MedStar Health.
KALI CYRUS, MD MPH
Kali Cyrus MD MPH is a psychiatrist who practices part time in a community setting, while serving as an Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins Medicine. She has an extensive background in DEI curriculum development, which has included leading the redesign of the Yale psychiatry residency program’s four-year social justice and mental health equity curriculum, co-development of the E.R.A.S.E. framework for responding to patient harassment, and ground-breaking standardized patient workshops to manage implicit bias in patient communication. She is also known for her growing work as an advocate within academia, as a founding member of Time’s Up Health Care where her role is ensuring inclusivity and intersectionality are at the forefront of initiatives. She also has advocacy experience in Capitol Hill, where she worked as a health policy fellow for CT Senator Chris Murphy, as the American Psychiatric Association’s 2018 Jeanne Spurlock Fellow. She offers consulting, coaching, and policy strategy around issues related to “difference” through her private consulting business, Dynamics of Difference PLLC.
GABY GOLDSTEIN, JD, PhD
Gaby Goldstein is co-founder at Sister District, whose mission is to build progressive power in state legislatures. As Senior Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, she leads programs that strengthen the pipeline of diverse, progressive candidates, as well as programs that educate the public about the importance of state legislatures and policy, and which support progressive state legislators once elected. Prior to founding Sister District, Gaby was a bioethics lawyer and health policy researcher. She holds a BA from UC Berkeley, JD from Boston University School of Law, and PhD in health policy from UC Berkeley.
MATT LONGJOHN, MD MPH
Dr. Matt Longjohn is a nationally recognized leader in public health, health care innovation and health promotion. Throughout his career, he has consistently been an advocate for health equity and quality of life. Dr. Longjohn was the National Health Officer and the Vice President for Community Integrated Health at YMCA of the USA (Y-USA). His achievements at the Y earned Dr. Longjohn and his team recognition by the Obama Administration as one of the top innovators in health care in the U.S. Prior to his work at the Y, Dr. Longjohn was a Fellow at the Altarum Institute, conducting health systems and health policy research in 9 states. Additionally, Dr. Longjohn has organized coalitions and advocacy efforts to establish and change numerous health policies at the municipal and state levels. He has served as a consultant to government agencies, hospitals and health systems, foundations, and non-profit organizations. Longjohn has also served on numerous Boards and National Advisory Committees and was the national Co-Chair of the “Campaign for Action” to promote workforce development in nursing across the US. From 2001-2017, Dr. Longjohn was on faculty at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in the Departments of Preventive Medicine and Pediatrics, where he served as the founding executive director of the Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children (CLOCC). Longjohn received his bachelor’s degree in biology from Kalamazoo College and his M.D. and MPH from Tulane University. He lives in southwest Michigan with his wife and two boys.
MILAN SATCHER, MD
Dr. Milan Satcher, MD is a Family Medicine Specialist in New Hampshire and has over 4 years of experience in the medical field. She graduated from Brown University medical school in 2016. She is active in many national health care advocacy organizations, and has been a keynote speaker for events with Doctors & Health Care Workers for Bernie and other groups fighting for guaranteed, universal health care. Milan is a member of the States Capacity & Recruitment committee.
MARK SCHAUER
Former Congressman Mark Schauer represented Michigan’s 7th District from 2009-11. Previously, Mark was Battle Creek City Commissioner, state Representative and Senator, rising to the post of Senate Minority Leader. He was chosen by Michigan Democrats as their gubernatorial nominee in 2014, losing a close race to the Republican incumbent.
As a Member of the 111th Congress, Mark’s proudest moment was voting to pass the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Mark serves as vice president of DC-based Winning Connections and owns Mark Schauer Strategic LLC. He previously performed national consulting work for the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee and the Eric Holder-chaired National Democratic Redistricting Committee. He also worked for the BlueGreen Alliance and Michigan Laborers District Council.
Mark serves on the boards of the Committee to Protect Health Care, STARBASE Youth Program, and Canadian Institute for Advanced Research.
Mark holds a BA from Albion College, a Master of Public Administration from Western Michigan University, and an MA in Political Science from Michigan State University. Mark, his wife Christine, and their dog Rocky split their time between Portage and Marquette, Michigan.
STATE LEADS
STAFF
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dr. Davidson is a board-certified Emergency Physician with nearly 20 years of experience in the Emergency Department in a rural West Michigan hospital. He completed his residency training in Emergency Medicine at Maine Medical Center after graduating from the College of Human Medicine at Michigan State University. In response to his experiences in the emergency department, Dr. Davidson is an outspoken advocate for universal health care and Medicare-for-All. As Executive Director of the Committee to Protect Health Care, Dr. Davidson advocates for the protection and expansion of health care coverage for his patients.
CHIEF OF STAFF
Miles Baker previously worked for the AFLCIO, candidate campaigns, and is a veteran of issue campaigns and ballot initiatives across the country. He has been a universal health care advocate since the first time he raised his hand to volunteer for a Democratic candidate. He currently resides in Chicago, IL.
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Annika joined the Committee in 2020 after doing communications work for Priorities USA, the Michigan House Democrats and the Michigan Department of State. She is a proud University of Michigan graduate and Flint resident.
POLITICAL DIRECTOR
Joel is a campaign staffer with experience in national volunteer organizing, campaign finance, and fundraising & development. He developed a passion for health care-focused campaign work during the 2018 election cycle when he worked alongside a candidate campaigning on a strong health care message. Joel currently resides in Grand Rapids.
ORGANIZING LEAD
Jodi Helsel joined the Committee to Protect team in 2020 and is committed to advancing health equity. Previously, she has organized for national, state, and local candidate campaigns across the country. Jodi hails from San Diego, CA and graduated from Oberlin College in Ohio. She currently resides in Chicago.
STATES ORGANIZER
Lori has spent the majority of her professional career at the intersection of public policy and organizing. Lori started her work in politics as an intern in Senator Schumer’s office and quickly moved up the ranks to become Regional Director. Most recently, Lori served as the Political Director and interim Deputy Campaign Manager for an Upstate New York congressional campaign. Lori has nearly a decade of experience under her belt and holds a BA in Political Science from Syracuse University.
DIGITAL ORGANIZER & MEDIA ASSISTANT
Cassidy comes to the Committee with experience in political communication, digital organizing, and consulting. She received her BS in Political Science from Appalachian State University and is furthering her education at the University of Florida where she’ll obtain an MA in Mass Communication. Cassidy is committed to protecting reproductive rights, expanding Medicaid, and ensuring all have access to quality health care through strategic communications and political mobilization. She currently resides in Asheville, North Carolina.
NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS
Andrew Feldman is a communications strategist and founder of Feldman Strategies LLC. Currently, Feldman works with progressive organizations to move their agenda forward on a national stage. He graduated from The George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs with a BA in Political Communication and lives in Washington, DC with his wife Megan.
COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR
Emma Thomas is a progressive communications expert and director at Feldman Strategies, where she provides state and national media relations, campaign organizing, and public affairs strategy to advocacy organizations and political efforts. Her background is in LGBTQ+ and reproductive health, rights, and justice advocacy. Emma is a Connecticut native and lives in Washington, DC. She holds a BA in Journalism with a certificate in Women, Leadership, and Public Policy from American University.
COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR
Az has 20-plus years of experience in journalism, political and corporate communications, health care and marketing. He is the founder of Java Solo Communications, a PR and communications agency. He lives in Muskegon, Mich., with his wife and their two sons.
DIGITAL STRATEGIST
Amelia is a communications professional with expertise in digital strategy, fundraising, and design, with a focus on developing data-driven strategies to reach activists with the right message at the right time. She graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in Industrial Systems Engineering and currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina.
PROGRAMS ASSOCIATE
Darien is a graduate of Michigan State University's James Madison College with dual Bachelor's degrees in Social Relations and Policy & Women and Gender Studies. She has worked in the political space for 3 years where she has gained experience in campaigns and in government relations for reproductive rights. Darien is originally from Michigan but now resides in the Chicago area.
