Empowering Women Living with Obesity: A Review of the Insurance Landscape, Resources, and Helpful Information

Christine is the Associate Director for Research and Policy for the STOP Obesity Alliance at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University. Her role includes providing the overall direction, leadership, and program management for the Alliance. Much of her research on obesity treatment and coverage has been published in the journal Obesity. Christine also serves as the Coordinator for the Obesity Care Advocacy Network (OCAN). She has a Master’s in Public Affairs from the University of Texas’ LBJ School of Public Affairs.

Christine has spent over 25 years working in Washington DC on health, human services, and education policy. She began her career as a Presidential Management Intern working at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the Secretary’s office. In 2001, Christine became the Director of the Governor of Missouri’s Washington Office. During that time, she held several leadership positions on key National Governors Association panels and task forces. After leaving the Hall of States, she spent time researching and writing for think tanks in DC and consulting on state advocacy efforts for Potomac Currents.

Michele Tedder, MSN, RN is a Senior Program Manager at the Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI), the only National non-profit focused on the health and wellness of Black women and girls. She is the lead on the Black Women’s Health Imperative’s (BWHI) current evaluation, funded by National Association of Chronic Disease Directors to evaluate their virtual program using their culturally tailored curriculum approved by CDC in 2020; and she has led the creation of BWHI’s family-centered Diabetes Self-Management Support Program curriculum currently being pilot tested by three sites.

Having struggled with her weight since childhood Michele knows what it is like to experience the negative impacts of living with a chronic disease like obesity. Through her lived experience she uses her influence to advocate for comprehensive and equitable obesity care. She is a sought-after speaker, panelist and subject matter expert discussing issues and policies that impact access to obesity care. Michele has served as a subject matter expert on obesity for the National Foundation of W omen Legislators, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, the American College of Gynecologists and DiaTribe Musings.

Michele was recently a recipient of the 2023 HealtheVoices Impact Award sponsored by Johnson and Johnson, given to health advocates to support the advancement of their work. Michele recently joined the national board of directors of the Obesity Action Coalition, a national non-profit dedicated to raising awareness and improving access to the prevention and treatment of obesity.

She is also the founder of Village Empowerment Solutions, a consulting business focused on supporting organizations in the development of strategies that improve health outcomes for people living with chronic diseases.  Michele holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s in nursing education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Tracy Zvenyach is Director of Policy Strategy and Alliances at the Obesity Action Coalition. In this role, she provides leadership in the development and implementation of policy priorities and strategy for OAC and represents OAC in alliances and coalition efforts to advance obesity care. She also serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Georgetown University, where she teaches healthcare policy and advocacy to graduate level students.

In her previous roles, Dr. Zvenyach led obesity public policy and advocacy efforts in industry and worked in the U.S. Senate for years, on topics ranging from healthcare, women’s policy, workforce, disaster response, and judiciary policy. Two legislative highlights include her work on provisions included in the Affordable Care Act and reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. Dr. Zvenyach’s research and publications focus on health economics and policy research to address barriers to obesity care, as well as diet quality of pregnant women receiving the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) supplemental food program.

Dr. Zvenyach received a BS in nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and her MS in nursing and PhD in health policy from the University of Maryland-Baltimore. Dr. Zvenyach volunteers her time on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Nurses Association.