Please join us in welcoming Dr. Anushree Vichare, associate professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management, as the new Interim Director of the Fitzhugh Mullan Institute for Health Workforce Equity beginning July 1.
Dr. Vichare will be leading the institute as Dr. Patricia (Polly) Pittman steps down to retire. Dr. Pittman co-founded the institute with Dr. Fitzhugh Mullan 11 years ago, and has been the director since 2020. We are deeply grateful for her leadership and service during one of the most difficult periods for the health workforce. As the search for a permanent Director continues, Dr. Vichare will step into the Interim Director role on July 1, 2026.
“Anushree has been an integral part of the leadership team, has a deep commitment to our mission and work and, importantly, is adored by everyone who has the chance to work with her,” said Dr. Pittman.
Dr. Vichare has her PhD in Healthcare Policy and Research and is a primary care physician. Her research is focused on investigating how Medicaid policies affect healthcare access, utilization, and health outcomes among low-income populations, with a particular focus on the role of the health workforce. She has previously worked with medical societies in developing practice improvement tools such as clinical practice guidelines and quality measures to improve cancer care.
In her current role, Dr. Vichare serves as an investigator on a robust portfolio of extramural-funded projects that examine how health workforces’ composition, diversity and distribution impacts access to care and quality of care for Medicaid beneficiaries, including a focus on cancer care and maternal health care. Recent projects examined the role of patient-clinician concordance in improving primary care utilization among Medicaid beneficiaries and delineating the workforce caring for Medicaid beneficiaries with a cancer diagnosis. She also co-leads the Health Workforce Diversity Initiative housed within the Social Mission Alliance at the Mullan Institute.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Vichare as the Interim Director of the Fitzhugh Mullan Institute, whose leadership will be critical in continuing the work towards a more equitable health workforce.