Families USA expands its equity, social justice expertise with the appointment of Staci Lofton as Senior Director of Health Equity - Families USA Skip to Main Content
05.02.2022 / Press Release

Families USA expands its equity, social justice expertise with the appointment of Staci Lofton as Senior Director of Health Equity

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Families USA Executive Director Frederick Isasi announced today that Staci Lofton has joined the leading national voice for health care consumers as Senior Director of Health Equity, a new position. Lofton’s appointment is part of the organization’s continuing efforts to increase focus on policies that further health equity at all levels and branches of government.

Lofton – a skilled health equity, social justice and diversity leader – is responsible for developing strategic priorities that help eliminate racial, ethnic and other disparities in health care. She oversees the development and execution of Families USA’s growing health equity portfolio — including its new Health Justice Now webinar series, the Center on Health Equity Action for System Transformation, the Health Equity Task Force for Delivery & Payment Transformation and the Health Equity Academy in System Transformation.

She comes to Families USA from the Harris County Public Health (HCPH) Department in Texas, one of the largest health departments in the nation. Lofton joined the agency in 2018 as a senior policy planner responsible for advancing health, housing, food and economic security for disenfranchised county residents. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, she has been responsible for designing and executing a strategic plan to ensure equitable testing, contract tracing and vaccination, and co-chaired the COVID-19 and Health Task Force to help the county equitably manage the pandemic.

Lofton previously worked in various roles on public health priorities during her eight-year tenure at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and on medical issues as an attorney. She received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Mount Holyoke College, a Master of Public Health in sociomedical sciences from Columbia University, and a Juris Doctorate in health law and ethics from the University of Houston.

“Staci’s passion and vision for creating a nation where everyone can achieve their very best health – regardless of how they identify, the color of their skin, or where they live – is a huge asset to both Families USA and families across America,” said Isasi. “She has a terrific track record of leading equity-centered programs on both the state and national level. She has important and creative ideas and a gift for collaborating with partners and shattering systemic barriers to health. From working on COVID-19 vaccine equity in Texas to cancer prevention programs at the CDC, Staci’s expertise and leadership will help us ensure that marginalized populations and communities of color can get the health and health care they need and deserve.”

“I am honored to be joining Families USA at this pivotal moment for health equity. The underlying systemic racial and health inequities laid bare by the pandemic need to be addressed if we are going to build a stronger America in the years to come,” said Lofton. “I am looking forward to helping Families USA lead the country toward transformative policy so families can get and stay healthy regardless of the color of their skin or where they live.”

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Families USA, a leading national voice for health care consumers, is dedicated to the achievement of high quality, affordable health care and improved health for all