Katie Clarke Adamson
Director of Health Partnerships and Policy
YMCA of the USA
In March 2004, Katie Clarke Adamson joined YMCA of the USA as Director of Health Partnerships and Policy. In this position she is working to expand YMCAs' relationships with leading health groups and federal agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She provides background and experience to health and wellness policy areas for YMCA of the USA. As part of her efforts, Ms. Clarke Adamson provides consultation and direction on many of the core components of YMCA Activate America and serves as a health policy advisor to Activate America assisting in the design of successful strategies for Y's in disease prevention and health promotion projects in the community. She also advises Government Relations and Policy Staff and YMCA of the USA regarding legislative and advocacy in the health field at the state and federal level, including drafting and implementation of legislation and appropriations initiatives and accompanying policy documents; and assisting with congressional, corporate and health partnerships and relations.
Prior to working at YMCA of the USA, Ms. Clarke Adamson spent several years working at law firms in DC (Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal, LLP and Arent Fox, LLP) as a managing director of public law and policy strategies groups. In addition, she also spent four years at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta where she developed and maintained Congressional and partner relations for the agency; responded to Congressional inquiries on budgetary and programmatic issues; drafted Congressional testimony and prepared information to educate the public, media, professional organizations and policy makers about CDC; met with Members of Congress and their staffs; assisted in the development and implementation of strategic plans for the agency; cultivated, strengthened and maintained partnerships for the agency with more than 30 national voluntary health associations and numerous federal and state agencies; helped manage a staff of health and policy specialists; and provided advice and technical assistance with the New York State affiliate of the American Cancer Society and the New York State Health Department during a several month detail to the state.
In the earlier part of her career, Ms. Clarke Adamson served in several legislative roles in Congress, including Legislative Director for a Congressman from New England. She developed short and long-term strategic plans on appropriations and authorizing legislation and advised the Congressman on a wide variety of health, education and welfare issues. She also drafted and helped secure passage of amendments and public laws, including a bill to establish a national program of cancer registries.
Ms. Clarke Adamson is a graduate of the University of Virginia.
