Feature

Alumna named Ohio's Medicaid director

Alumna Cristal Thomas, MPP'01 was appointed Ohio's Medicaid director by incoming Governor Ted Strickland. Thomas will play an important role in Governor Strickland's administration, working to make sure Ohio's Medicaid programs function efficiently and effectively.

Thomas, an Ohio native, has served at the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (formerly Illinois Department of Public Aid) since 2003. Most recently she served as the assistant director of the state agency with over 2,300 employees and a $15 billion annual budget. The department was responsible for healthcare procurement and administration of the Illinois Medicaid, child support enforcement and energy assistance programs.

Thomas implemented the All Kids program in Illinois, which guaranteed healthcare coverage to all children in the state. Prior to her service in Illinois, Thomas was a policy analyst at the Office of Management and Budget in the Executive Office of the President of the United States. She won the Office of Management and Budget Special Achievement Award in both 2002 and 2003.

"I am thrilled to return to my home state to help turn around Ohio," Thomas said. "I will work with Governor Strickland to fix Ohio's problems with the Medicaid system and make access to high-quality, affordable healthcare options a reality for all Ohioans."

Thomas graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor's degree in molecular genetics and earned her master's degree in public policy from the University of Chicago Irving B. Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies.