Lisa Latts, MD, and Richard I. Smith have joined Avalere, a strategic health care advisory company, as advisers. Latts and Smith bring years of experience immersed in the healthcare delivery system and health policy in both the private and public sectors.

“Lisa and Rick are excellent additions to our growing staff,” said Dan Mendelson, founder and CEO of Avalere. “Lisa’s background in quality improvement and creating value in the healthcare delivery system and Rick’s profound understanding of policy strengthen the deep bench of seasoned advisers at Avalere.”

In addition to her advisory work, Dr. Lisa Latts is also the chief medical officer for the University of California self-insured health plan. Prior, she was vice president at Anthem/Wellpoint, focused on quality, and was instrumental in Wellpoint’s delivery system reforms such as the Patient-Centered Medical Homes, Centers of Excellence, and early work on Accountable Care Organizations.

Prior to joining Avalere, Smith was the executive vice president for policy and research at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. Prior, Smith was vice president of public policy and research at the American Association of Health Plans (now America’s Health Insurance Plans); vice president of health policy at the Association of Private Pension and Welfare Plans (now the American Benefits Council); director of public policy at the Washington Business Group on Health (now the National Business Group on Health); and staff director of the Maryland Governor’s Commission on Health Care Policy and Financing.