Samantha (Sam) Burch is Director, Health Information Technology Policy, for the American Hospital Association. As Director of Health IT Policy she takes a leadership role in developing and advocating policy positions regarding health information technology and its application in healthcare payment and quality programs; supports AHA members in analyzing the impacts of changing federal policies that require the use of health IT, and engages in research that provides the healthcare field with additional insights into health IT. She regularly represents the AHA and its members at policy forums, meetings with government, private sector officials, and multi-stakeholder forums.
Prior to joining the AHA, Sam served as Senior Director, Congressional Affairs, for HIMSS, a global, cause-based, not-for-profit organization focused on better health through information and technology.
She has also served as Vice President, Legislation and Health IT at the Federation of American Hospitals and as a healthcare aide and press secretary for Rep. Al Green (D-TX). Early in her career she worked with the American Cancer Society, AcademyHealth, and as a policy fellow with the Ohio Department of Health.
Sam received a Master of Arts degree in government from the Johns Hopkins University in Washington, DC and a Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations from The Ohio State University.