HARTFORD, CT - The Connecticut Department of Social Services (CT DSS) today announced the formation of the Rural Health Transformation Program leadership team, naming four experienced public health professionals to guide the initiative. The program coordinates dozens of projects across more than a handful of state agencies with the goal of improving health outcomes for residents in Connecticut’s rural communities.
The following individuals have been appointed to lead the program:
Daniel Sinclair, MPH — Project Director, Rural Health Transformation Program
Mr. Sinclair brings more than 16 years of international public health experience as a Foreign Service Officer with USAID, where he held senior health positions in Guatemala, Nepal, Jordan, and Zambia. Most recently, he served as acting Deputy Assistant Administrator overseeing approximately $1 billion in annual programming. He also brings earlier experience in state environmental health policy and Peace Corps service in rural Peru. Mr. Sinclair holds an MPH from George Washington University and is a trained Executive Coach through Georgetown University.
Julie Vigil, MS, MPH, CHC, CHRC, FACHE — Deputy Director of Operations
Ms. Vigil will serve as the lead contact for non-DSS state agencies and will oversee contracting for those projects. She joins from the Department of Public Health, where she served as Branch Chief for the Community, Family Health & Prevention Branch. A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, she holds certifications in both Healthcare and Research Compliance, along with a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Quinnipiac University and an MPH from Goodwin University.
Gretchen Hutula, MA — Assistant Director
Ms. Hutula will manage day-to-day program operations and ongoing coordination with partner state agencies. She brings 28 years of experience securing and managing grants from a wide range of funders, including federal and state agencies, foundations, and multilateral donors. Most recently, she served as Director of Grants and Contracts at Generations Family Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center in eastern Connecticut. She holds both an MA and BA from American University.
Margaret Ostafin, DHA, MPH, RN — Deputy Director of Projects
Dr. Ostafin will oversee the eight DSS-led grant projects and lead the program’s projects team. She brings over 20 years of public health experience spanning local, state, and federal agencies, consulting, and academia, and combines clinical expertise as a registered nurse with administrative and program management skills. She holds a Doctorate in Health Administration from the Medical University of South Carolina, an MPH from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a BSN from Georgetown University, along with PMP and CPXP certifications.
“Connecticut’s rural communities deserve a team with the depth of experience and the drive to deliver real results — and that is exactly what we have assembled here. Daniel, Julie, Gretchen, and Margaret bring an extraordinary range of expertise, from international development and clinical care to grants management and public health administration. Together, they are uniquely equipped to tackle the complexity of this program and ensure that every one of our projects moves forward with purpose and accountability. I could not be more confident in this team," said Andrea Barton Reeves, Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Social Services
Federal Disclaimer: This project is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $154,249,105.53 in Budget Period 1 with 100% funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.