Dena Hasan, MPH
Washington
Summary
Dynamic executive with over 15 years of comprehensive experience in public and private sector health care and social services. Proven expertise in strategic planning, community relations, and program implementation, particularly in health care service delivery and payment reform. Skilled in integrating social determinants of health into service provision and reimbursement methodologies, while effectively designing and launching public health initiatives aimed at reducing chronic disease on local and national scales, with a strong emphasis on evaluation. A multifaceted leader proficient in fostering collaboration among diverse communities and stakeholders to drive impactful results in fast-paced environments.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Founder & CEO
StraightCircle Solutions
10.2025 - Current
- Established a successful business by identifying market needs and developing innovative solutions in Medicaid polity, health system redesign, homeless prevention, migrant services and community-based innovations.
- Developing strong partnerships with other businesses to allow for collaboration and more significant opportunities for growth.
- Partnering with local government agencies, health and human service providers, and Medicaid managed care organizations to improve performance and staff retention.
Associate Principal
Health Management Associates (HMA)
09.2023 - 10.2025
- Conducted comprehensive project management oversight for national and state-based health initiatives (ie. DC, MA, CA, IN, IL), ensuring alignment with regulatory standards and organizational goals.
- Delivered technical assistance and executive leadership coaching to community based service providers that improved revenue cycle management and staff retention.
- Analyzed performance metrics to enhance program delivery and optimize resource utilization across multiple publicly-financed benefits within Medicaid, SNAP, TANF and homeless programs.
- Facilitated stakeholder engagement sessions to gather insights and foster collaboration on health policy reforms among state government agencies, service delivery providers and community members.
- Led strategic planning efforts to develop and implement health management initiatives that address community needs.
Director, Office of Policy & Program Support Director, Pandemic Mass Care Operations
DC Department of Human Services (DHS)
11.2016 - 08.2023
- Responsible for DHS’s regulatory compliance with federal and local mandates specific to due process, HIPAA compliance, data privacy and benefit accessibility standards for migrant populations and persons with non- or limited-English proficiency
- Oversaw $13M monthly budget, 135-staff complement and 20 vendors to operate five hotels used as isolation and quarantine sites or non-congregate shelter for persons experiencing homelessness that are most at risk of severe COVID-related health outcomes
- Established bridges between hospital, managed care and community-based services through policy development and relationship building; Drive collaboration with hospital administrators to update their intake and discharge policies for persons with housing instability, COVID-19 or requiring community -based services to manage activities of daily living.
- Leveraged federal funding for local programs. Spearheaded federal approval to establish new Medicaid benefit to pay for non-traditional healthcare services; Leading collaboration of experts in health care policy, managed care, homeless services, change management and business re-design to launch benefit in July 2022
- Developed public testimony conveying agency positions in context of local and federal priorities
- Designed and launched initiatives that test new approaches to prevent homelessness and poverty, including DC’s first shallow rental subsidy that is preventing homelessness for 300 people and a basic income pilot designed to remove ‘benefit cliffs’ and other barriers that families confront as they pursue employment and increase income
- Oversaw DC’s 19 federal and locally-funded domestic violence and sexual assault grants, totallying $4M
- Developed legislation to establish DC’s new Office of Migrant Services, and adjoining operational policy for the Office’s day-to-day operations
- Convened diverse stakeholder groups (local and federal agencies, managed care organizations, corporate entities, board members, civic leaders and institutional donors) to gain support and/or investment for new initiatives
- Operationalized internal agency initiatives that promote workplace inclusion and improve employee job satisfaction
Director, Healthcare Reform & Innovation
DC Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF)
10.2015 - 12.2016
- Accountable for the design of innovative programs that integrate behavioral, physical and acute health care for chronically ill Medicaid recipients, specifically focused on initiatives authorized through the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).
- Responsible for DC’s Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Program, and cooperative agreements with the federal government to launch new and connect existing health information technology/exchanges (HIT/HIE), that enabled providers’ accesses to patient information at the point of care
- Directed the design of DC's first State Innovation Model plan that currently serves as the key roadmap DC uses to improve Medicaid enrollees’ well-being through health care delivery and payment reform
- Led creation of service models, payment methods and health information exchange standards aimed to integrate DC’s health care and social services, resulting in new requirements for Medicaid managed care organizations
Associate Consultant
Booz Allen Hamilton
04.2011 - 06.2012
- Responsible for the creation of Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight's premier policy and strategic operations for Medicaid eligibility appeals within state health insurance exchanges required by the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (ACA)
- Evaluated internal systems and prepared training initiatives to mitigate ongoing problems among CMS's program integrity contractors
- Oversaw project schedules and evaluated progress toward important milestones at every phase of project
- Assisted senior management in negotiating and renegotiating contracts to increase cost savings
- Produced summaries of Congressional bills, policy analysis and memos outlining recommendations to support / refute proposals, with justification for either position
Social Science Research Analyst
US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
07.2006 - 05.2007
- Managed the research of contractors through the development of work plans, briefs and product evaluation
- Monitored focus groups consisting of various Medicare beneficiary populations to identify their preferences on information presented on CMS’ website, brochures and publications
- Prepared regulatory documentation for project leads
Education
Masters of Science - Public Health
University of North Carolina At Greensboro
Greensboro, NC06.2002
Bachelor of Science - Healthcare Administration
Tennessee State University
Nashville, TN12.2000
Skills
- Social system transformation
- System alignment for implementation
- Medicaid, SNAP & TANF operations
- Strategic analysis
- Training delivery
- Relationship management
- Strategic stakeholder involvement
- Effective team leadership
- Project execution management
- Effective change implementation
Websites
Certification
Association for Talent Development Training & Facilitation
Timeline
Founder & CEO
StraightCircle Solutions
10.2025 - Current
Associate Principal
Health Management Associates (HMA)
09.2023 - 10.2025
Director, Office of Policy & Program Support Director, Pandemic Mass Care Operations
DC Department of Human Services (DHS)
11.2016 - 08.2023
Director, Healthcare Reform & Innovation
DC Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF)
10.2015 - 12.2016
Associate Consultant
Booz Allen Hamilton
04.2011 - 06.2012
Social Science Research Analyst
US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
07.2006 - 05.2007
Bachelor of Science - Healthcare Administration
Tennessee State University
Masters of Science - Public Health
University of North Carolina At Greensboro
Custom
- 20th Annual ‘Leadership in Crisis’ Cafritz Team Award Winner, for COVID-19 response for homeless population in Washington, DC
- Co-chair, Sound Mind Sound Body Summer Academy camps, Washington, DC, (2010-2014), hosting over 300 low-income high-school students annually
- Special Assistant to Washington, DC Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner 7D02
- Board of Directors, DC SAFE, domestic violence shelter and service provider
Custom
Evaluation of Misting Controls to Reduce Respirable Silica Exposure for Brick Cutting, Beamer, B.R., Shulman, S., Maynard, A., Williams (Hasan), D., Watkins, D., Annals of Occupational Hygiene, pp. 1-8, 2005