Adrienne Gemheart, Housing Finance Consultant, California Housing Partnership
Rachelle Reyes Wenger is the System Vice President of Public Policy and Advocacy Engagement for CommonSpirit Health. In February 2019, CommonSpirit Health was formed by the combining of California-based Dignity Health and Colorado-based Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI), making CommonSpirit Health one of the largest, private, not-for-profit healthcare systems in the nation with 137 hospitals across 21 states.
Ms. Wenger is primarily responsible for advancing the organization’s Public Policy & Advocacy Priorities at the local, state, national, and international arenas. She manages policy issues core to CommonSpirit Health’s commitment to its foundational priorities focused on social and environmental determinants of health. Her portfolio includes: health equity, economic and racial justice, immigration, housing and homelessness, climate change and the environment, nutrition and hunger. She serves on various hospital and community boards and committees. Through strong collaborations and speaking platforms, Ms. Wenger has worked to successfully provide the healthcare voice in support of landmark legislation and strategic initiatives while inspiring community and industry engagement to raise their voices in solidarity on common ground issues.
Ms. Wenger received her bachelor’s degree in Philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley, and her master’s degree in Public Administration at California State University, Northridge.