OKPOLICY.ORG
Oklahoma Policy Institute has grown a lot in the past few years. From humble beginnings in 2008, we now have a staff of 19, including talented individuals who focus on a wide range of policy issues, intensive data analysis, outreach, communications, events and operations, and more. To give you a better idea of who we are and what we all do, we are running an OK Policy Blog series highlighting our staffers.
For this edition, here’s Policy Director Carly Putnam:
What do you do at OK Policy?
Yell about Medicaid and herd cats (more specifically, I work with the policy team to set our policy priorities and ensure that the policy team’s work is aligned with those priorities. I also do the bulk of our health care research.)
What’s your favorite thing about doing this work?
It’s really satisfying to connect people’s granular, day-to-day needs with complex policy issues and to break down those policy issues into solutions anyone can understand and can take action on. Health care specifically is both quite technical and deeply human. Balancing those two requires some delicacy and can be frustrating, but it’s so rewarding. Also, I get to work with a great team!
What would you most like Oklahoma to become a “Top 10 State” in?
Health equity. So few of us who need health care get it, and as we’re pursuing various health care reforms, it’s so, so important that we center and prioritize addressing needs and developing systems for all Oklahomans.
What else should OK Policy’s readers know about you?
I have a pet bearded dragon. His favorite activities are napping, eating kale, and fighting his own reflection.
I like you already! You will do well and you have a great vision for the mission of the job.