For many physicians, patient care begins and ends in the exam room. Ellen Shank’s career tells a different story. By engaging in health policy, she has translated daily clinical experiences into legislative change — improving care not just for individual patients, but for entire communities.
Shank’s entry into health policy began as a fellow in the Department of Emergency Medicine Health Policy and Administration Fellowship program at UC Davis Health. Through the program, for two years she worked closely with state and local government officials, spending significant time at the California State Capitol and learning how policy decisions are shaped — and changed.
“Sometimes the most powerful way to help the person in front of you is to change the system behind them,” shared Shank.