Ellen Pliska
Ellen provides strategic support and direction to the contraceptive choice and access portfolio. Her work includes identification of investment opportunities in contraceptive policy research, design, advocacy and implementation.
With over 20 years of experience improving women’s health and contraception access in partnership with state and territorial health agencies and organizations, Ellen brings a unique perspective to advancing Arnold Ventures’ work in policy and program implementation. Prior to joining Arnold Ventures, Ellen was the Senior Director of Family and Child Health at the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to supporting the work of state and territorial public health officials and furthering the development and excellence of public health policy nationwide. She led strategy and programming for the Family and Child Health portfolio, including leading a 28 state and territory contraception access policy and implementation learning community, advising states on federal Title X policy changes, and providing in-depth technical assistance to state health commissioners and their staff on contraception access financing, access and service delivery, and equity.
Ellen holds a Master of Health Science from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ellen is Certified in Public Health (CPH) from the National Board of Public Health Examiners.
Ellen lives with her husband, daughter, and four cats in the Baltimore area. She enjoys gardening, sewing, collecting 1980s action figures, and watching bad horror films.
