Tara Dechert
Lancaster,PA
Summary
Product and strategy leader with 15+ years of experience designing, implementing, and scaling innovative healthcare solutions that improve patient outcomes, enhance efficiency, and drive sustainability within value-based care models. Proven ability to lead cross-functional, multi-disciplinary teams within and across health systems, government, and community organizations. Skilled in developing product strategies, negotiating Medicaid and payer contracts, and using data-driven insights to improve care delivery and policy outcomes. Adept at translating complex requirements into actionable roadmaps that balance clinical, business, and user needs.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Principal Investigator & Senior Project Director
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia – PolicyLab
01.2018 - Current
- Lead the design, execution, and evaluation of multi-year, multi-million-dollar integrated care projects using agile project management methodology and continuous quality improvement.
- Define strategic vision, set KPIs, and manage governance and collaboration across cross-functional teams including clinicians, researchers, data analysts, technology, and external public health partners.
- Translate clinical and research findings into actionable policy and operational frameworks.
- Collaborate with health system leadership to design value-based payment approaches ensuring sustainability of innovative models.
- Represent PolicyLab as subject matter expert to stakeholders, policymakers, and advocacy coalitions.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary internal and external teams (including Geisinger Health System) to address complex community health challenges and achieve breakthrough results.
Business Development Manager
Nurse-Family Partnership National Service Office
01.2010 - 01.2017
- Directed national healthcare integration strategy across six states, building linkages between public payers and community public health providers.
- Negotiated regulatory language and developed managed care contracts enabling direct Medicaid reimbursement of services.
- Maintained advocacy relationships with legislators, policy leaders, and payers to secure $45M+ annual investment for maternal and child health programs.
- Developed long- and short-term state strategic plans, achieving unprecedented 40% program growth during funding declines.
Senior Program Officer
Public/Private Ventures
01.2007 - 01.2010
- Managed early replication and scaling of evidence-based health programs, ensuring compliance with evidentiary standards and quality metrics.
- Provided implementation technical assistance and evaluation support to health systems and community-based public health providers nationwide.
Program Analyst / Senior Program Analyst
Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency
01.2004 - 01.2006
- Oversaw state and federal funding streams (~$120M) for prevention and public health initiatives.
- Guided local providers and advisory groups on implementation, process evaluation, and compliance.
Research Assistant
National Center for Juvenile Justice, Applied Research Division
01.2001 - 01.2004
- Conducted site evaluations, data collection, and program analysis for state-level initiatives.
Education
Project Management Professional Certificate -
Villanova University
Villanova, PA10.2025
M.S. - Administration of Justice
Shippensburg University
Shippensburg, PA05.2007
B.A. - Social Work
Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown, PA05.2001
Skills
- Project Management & Agile Delivery
- Value-Based Care & Payment Reform
- Strategic & Operational Planning
- Cross-Functional Team Leadership
- Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Management
- Healthcare Innovation & Integration
- Data-Driven Insights & Evaluation
- Policy Development & Advocacy
- Project Governance & Risk Mitigation
Accomplishments
- Designed, executed, and evaluated a scalable integrated community and clinical care model which has shown improved health outcomes, patient and provider satisfaction, and cost savings.
- Led multi-million-dollar projects at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) PolicyLab, including enterprise-wide social determinants of health screener implementation and a statewide maternal & child health needs assessment.
- Negotiated and collaborated with Medicaid Managed Care to expand services and secure sustainable payment pathways for evidence-based community health programs.
- Achieved 40% growth in multi-state healthcare services during a period of reduced public funding by developing strategic payer and policy partnerships.
- Served as senior strategist on legislative and policy initiatives, ensuring alignment of clinical research with health policy priorities.
Affiliations
- Board Member, Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance (2021 – Present)
- Gubernatorial Appointee, PA Dept. of Human Services & Education State Advisory Council (2018 – Present)
- State & National Advocacy Roles – Maternal and Child Health Workgroups; American Academy of Pediatrics Committees
Timeline
Principal Investigator & Senior Project Director
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia – PolicyLab
01.2018 - Current
Business Development Manager
Nurse-Family Partnership National Service Office
01.2010 - 01.2017
Senior Program Officer
Public/Private Ventures
01.2007 - 01.2010
Program Analyst / Senior Program Analyst
Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency
01.2004 - 01.2006
Research Assistant
National Center for Juvenile Justice, Applied Research Division
01.2001 - 01.2004
Project Management Professional Certificate -
Villanova University
M.S. - Administration of Justice
Shippensburg University
B.A. - Social Work
Elizabethtown College
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