AHP Connect Articles

Meet our new COO, Jordan English

We are excited to announce the addition of Jordan English to the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) team as chief operating officer (COO). She brings 15+ years of industry knowledge and marketing skills to her role as COO. I (virtually) sat down with Jordan to learn a little bit more about her and why she’s excited to join the team.

How did you get your start in healthcare?

I didn’t intend to work in healthcare. I graduated college with a plan to work in international development. I was young and earnest and I came to DC to join the diplomatic corps. While I was going through that process, I was hired for my first real job at The Advisory Board Company. If you don’t know it, the Advisory Board is now a global healthcare research, technology, and consulting organization - it was much smaller then. And while I was there, I learned first-hand about the impact that healthcare organizations can have on social change, and that was it. I realized I didn’t need to go anywhere. 

What initially drew you to AHP?

I used to work with Alice at the Advisory Board Company so I was familiar with AHP and was drawn to its mission. Then after the 2020 presidential election, one of the things that caught me by surprise was the impact that small donors had on the campaign, on both sides of the aisle. I read this article shortly after I spoke to Alice for the first time about potentially joining her at AHP, that around 20% of all donations, so close to $3B total, came from small donors. That number really stood out to me because it highlighted both how much of an impact small donors can have and how much fundraising itself is changing because of this growing donate-in-the-moment, give-what-you-can-when-you-can movement. When I thought about the influence a hospital can have in mobilizing its community and how philanthropy as an industry is responding to changes that can bring even greater impact, I thought I’d be a fool not to be part of what AHP is doing. 

Can you talk about your role before coming to AHP?

Most recently, I led a marketing team at Optum. If you’re not familiar with Optum, it’s part of the UnitedHealth Group family, and it provides technology and services to healthcare organizations, pharmaceutical companies, and health plans. I led the go-to-market efforts for our hospital and health system portfolio. I came to Optum by way of the Advisory Board where I was also in Marketing. 

What is it about the healthcare industry that has kept you engaged throughout your career? 

I think it’s the impact that healthcare organizations have on the community and the ability to really drive change. Oftentimes, hospitals are one of the biggest, if not the biggest, employer in their communities, but in many cases, the mission of improving the lives in those communities is also what drives them. They have a vested interest not just in caring for their communities but in making them better - in promoting wellness. We can talk about in terms of impacting social determinants or of population health management or just thinking of it as a virtuous circle. 

What are you most looking forward to about working in the healthcare philanthropy space? 

Like I mentioned before, I’m really drawn to the AHP mission. I think I’m most looking forward to working with the AHP members as they focus on issues like the changing healthcare philanthropy landscape. Every industry is asking if the changes of the last year will be permanent, and philanthropy is no different. I’m excited to help our members navigate issues like how to best begin the transition back to in-person donor events and how to recalibrate performance benchmarks after a year like 2020. And as you can probably tell, I’m also interested in how healthcare philanthropy specifically can impact health equity. 

Is there a topic in the near-term from the AHP membership that you’re most excited to dig into more? 

Yes! I’m really looking forward to the health equity session next month that’s part of our Leading Forward series. Coming out of the COVID pandemic, a lot of socio-economic disparities were highlighted in our healthcare system. I’m excited to learn how the Chief Clinical Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer and the Chief Philanthropy Officer at Allegheny Health Network are working together to address these disparities.  

What else should we know about you? 

A: When I’m not at AHP I’m either working on our never-ending house renovation or knitting. I often have donation projects like hats and blankets going, so if anyone’s organization needs an item, please just message me! I live in Arlington, VA with my husband and our pugs, and if given the opportunity I’ll bore you with photos of them.