Maria Avalos, EDC project director, brings extensive expertise in public health, health care management, program management and leadership, strategic planning, Lean Methodologies, and business development. Previously a highly successful health care consultant, she specializes in strengthening health care management, quality, and policy to significantly improve people’s health and well-being.

As the project director for EDC’s National Dementia Care Collaborative (NDCC), Avalos heads up strategic initiatives to advance NDCC’s goal to improve access to evidence-based comprehensive dementia care. Currently, she is contributing to NDCC’s work to coordinate with the developers of six evidence-based comprehensive dementia care programs to rapidly respond to increasing demands for dementia services.

Before joining EDC, Avalos was the director of operations for primary care for United Regional Health Care System. Under her leadership, United Regional Health Care System expanded access to care and successfully implemented multiple alternative payment models.

Avalos holds an MPH in Health Policy and Healthcare Administration from the University of South Florida and a BS in Community Health, Health Education & Promotion from the University of Texas, San Antonio.