Sue Polis
Lutheran Services in America
Sue Pechilio Polis leads Government Affairs and Public Relations for Lutheran Services in America (LSA), a network of 300 faith-based, non-profit, health and human service providers across the United States. Her focus includes strengthening and protecting Medicaid, including building partnerships with federal policymakers and Medicaid Managed Care Organizations to improve outcomes for children, youth and families, older adults, and people with disabilities. Other priorities include Medicare, the healthcare workforce, and housing & health. Prior to LSA, Sue directed the health and well-being portfolio for the National League of Cities as part of the Institute for Youth, Education, and Families. She conceived, developed, and implemented Cities of Opportunity, a multi-year effort to engage mayors and city leaders in comprehensively addressing the root causes of poor health (SDOH) through an equitable policy and systems change approach.
With expertise in health policy, Sue’s work spans the connection to housing, economic opportunity, mental health and substance use disorders, obesity, trauma, and local systems alignment, and data for well-being. Prior to the National League of Cities, Mrs. Polis led the development and management of the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) external relations and strategic partnership efforts in support of the organization’s public policy goals. Her focus included multi-sector alignment in community health improvement, as well as workplace wellness and substance use disorders.
Prior to joining TFAH, Mrs. Polis worked at AARP on health and financial security-related issues with an emphasis on advancing policy to address the needs of vulnerable 50+ populations. Her focus areas included the health care workforce, retirement savings, consumer protection, and low-income programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Low-Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Mrs. Polis was the founding National Director of Advocacy for the American Heart Association. Mrs. Polis background also includes consulting on health, environmental, and tobacco-related issues campaigns.