Brenda Blunt, DHA, MSN, RN, has joined ORAU as health policy director.
In her role, Blunt will be responsible for the strategic development and management of ORAU’s health policy team, and serve as health policy subject matter expert across federal health programs.
Blunt said she is glad to join an organization with a depth of history and knowledge of health care, referring to ORAU’s past as an innovator in the use of radiation therapy in the treatment of cancer.
“I am excited to be part of the ORAU team,” Blunt said. “I have always had great interactions with ORAU staff. I’m here because I like the mission and because I like driving improvement in the health delivery system.”
Among her previous roles, Blunt was a division director for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, including leading and directing staff involved in the monitoring and research evaluation of section 1115 Medicaid demonstration projects, and the startup, development and creation of a new workgroup within CMS dedicated to section 1115 Medicaid demonstration projects.
Prior to joining ORAU, Blunt was executive director for health at Customer Value Partners, a government contractor based in Fairfax, Va., where she provided subject matter expertise to project teams working with a wide range of federal agencies related to healthcare quality, federal healthcare policy, and clinical workplaces.
Blunt is a registered nurse licensed in the State of Maryland. She received a doctorate of health administration from Capella University in 2017, a master of science in nursing from Walden University in 2009, a bachelor of science in nursing from Johns Hopkins University in 2006, a bachelor of science in biology from Towson University in 1998, and an associate of arts degree in secondary education from Garrett College in 1997.