Avalere, part of Avalere Health, has recently announced the promotion of two dedicated individuals as practice directors. Policy strategist Milena Sullivan has been elevated to Policy Practice Director and Erica Eisenhart takes on the role of Operations Practice Director.

“Milena has more than two decades of experience in policy and advocacy, including industry experience from her tenure with large life science companies,” says Avalere President Sarah Alwardt, Ph.D. “She will lead the policy practice with vision, creativity, and excellence.”

Milena steps into the role as Miryam Frieder transitions to serve as our Senior Advisor. “Miryam has dedicated nearly 18 years to Avalere and will leave a lasting impact. She will be greatly missed.”

Milena’s career includes policy roles through consulting, think tank, trade association, and life sciences corporations. During her tenure at Avalere, Milena has served as a key leader advising clients on the impact of the evolving healthcare policy landscape on their commercial, access, and advocacy priorities. Milena has been overseeing ongoing retainer engagements with a number of top life sciences companies, as well as key trade associations and provider organizations. In the last year, she also led Avalere’s internal and external efforts related to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

“I am honored and humbled to step into a role leading the most talented and driven healthcare policy experts in the business,” Milena says. “I deeply respect the hard work and passion that this team devotes to their roles, and I am optimistic about what lies ahead for our journey together, specially amidst a very dynamic policy environment.”

Avalere’s policy practice group has built a national reputation for its uncompromising fact-based analyses, objective perspectives, and intelligent strategies that lead to innovative, data-driven solutions. In addition to policy, Avalere’s integrated services include market access, health economics and outcomes research, patient-centered outcomes, vaccine strategies, and due diligence, both from a US and global lens.

Erica Eisenhart, who began her Avalere journey over 17 years ago, manages Avalere’s operations team. In recent years, she was responsible for establishing and managing the Project Management Office and Contract Specialists teams and led Avalere’s integration into the Fishawack Health organization (now Avalere Health). Currently, Erica is leading the integration of several Avalere Health business units.

“Erica’s promotion to Practice Director reaffirms her exceptional leadership, significant grace under pressure, and focused ability to always know what’s most important—keeping our team operating at a high level,” added Sarah.