01/13/2025

For Immediate Release
January 13, 2025
 
Contact: Jen Rini | jennifer@deha.org | 856-912-2933
 

(Dover, DE – January 13, 2025) – The Delaware Healthcare Association is doubling the size of its team, leveling up for the 2025 legislative session and beyond.
 
A leading voice in healthcare advocacy, the expanded DHA team will work collaboratively with federal and state partners to champion solutions that strengthen healthcare in the First State. DHA’s additional team members bring expertise in government, policymaking, communications, and operations management.
 
An experienced leader in partnership coordination and organizational capacity building, Carling Ryan joins DHA as Director of Strategic Affairs & Operations. Carling has served as a Director with Social Contract since 2019, managing a portfolio of social and collective impact projects including those related to community violence reduction and service delivery improvement across government systems. Prior to joining Social Contract, she worked at the Delaware Department of Human Resources as a Policy and Research Analyst and in the General Assembly providing policy analyses as well as strategic management and constituent services. She will oversee internal operations and DHA’s new political action strategies.
 
Additionally, Jules Villecco joins as Director of Policy where she will be researching health policies, tracking legislation and regulations, and providing policy analysis for DHA members. Jules comes to DHA from the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services where she spearheaded large departmental legislative initiatives and liaised with executive leadership as well as state and federal policy leads to promote effective change and advocacy. She previously served as executive assistant and policy assistant to the Cabinet Secretary as well as serving as legislative assistant to leadership in the Delaware General Assembly.
 
Finally, DHA welcomes Jen Rini as Director of Communications where she will be leading media and communications operations for the organization. Jen began her communications career as a journalist covering Delaware government and healthcare for the Delaware State News and The News Journal. She has experience leading political communications and external and internal media strategy within state government at the Delaware General Assembly, Children’s Department and most recently Lt. Governor’s Office. She has also worked within the communications team at a recycling NGO where she gained broader experience in marketing and communications project management.
 
“We are entering a new chapter for the Delaware Healthcare Association and I am thrilled to welcome our new team members on this journey. Carling, Jules and Jen bring a positive, can-do perspective and energy to our advocacy efforts, and have already hit the ground running. Their experiences in government and operations management are true assets to our work. We are excited to build on our efforts to enhance healthcare quality, access, affordability, and equity in the new year and beyond,” said Brian Frazee, President & CEO of the Delaware Healthcare Association.
 
The new team members join DHA’s existing team consisting of: Brian Frazee, President & CEO; Megan McNamara Williams, NP, FNP-C, FAANP, Vice President, Clinical Affairs & Operations; Christina Bryan, Vice President of External Affairs; and Yasmine Chinoy, Member Services & Special Events Coordinator and Executive Assistant to the President & CEO. DHA is also currently hiring for a new Administrative Coordinator position to support the growing team.
 
About the Delaware Healthcare Association
The Delaware Healthcare Association (DHA) was formed in 1967 and is a statewide trade and membership services organization that represents and serves hospitals, health systems, and related healthcare organizations in their role of providing a continuum of appropriate, cost-effective, quality care to improve the health of the people of Delaware. DHA’s mission is to provide policy and advocacy leadership in creating an excellent environment to support our members in helping every Delawarean to be as healthy as they can be.