Wye River Group Overview
Wye River Group is a nonpartisan, not for profit entity, which serves as catalyst to raise awareness and broaden perspectives to enable cross stakeholder engagement. The organization tackles challenging public policy issues such as water and health and health care.
Based in Washington DC WRG and its sister organization GKEN.org (Global Knowledge Exchange Network) create an intellectual exchange of fresh ideas in a neutral environment, employing a dynamic process that works to stay ahead of emerging trends. We identify and advance approaches that build on the value of consensus and public private partnerships.
The strength of this work rests on the active engagement of a cross-section of stakeholders committed to advancing common goals. The unique, inclusive process employed in reaching agreement on issues helps ensure its long term viability in the public policy arena and in the marketplace.
Our success depends on maintaining our position as neutral catalyst skilled at creating an environment of trust and in setting the stage for dialogue involving diverse interests within an ‘apolitical’ philosophical framework.
For more information, please visit wrgh.org.
Available Internships
The Wye River Group has 3 different internship opportunities currently available
First Internship Opportunity
From: January through June 2022
We are seeking interns to work with us on a very timely social and public policy issue, substance use (SU). Ideally the student(s) would have a background in public and a strong interest in public policy.
This is an excellent opportunity to meet key health and health care influencers and learn more about the impact SU is having on individuals, families, and communities across Texas.
The internship may start now and continue through the fall and or spring term, for the right candidate. The candidate selected will research and draft background policy papers, on substance use trends through multiple lens for example; underserved, gender, ethnicity, age, disparity in treatment dispersal, stigma, etc. The background research will be used to develop writings reviewed by UTH professionals and ultimately published in media, trade and professional societies across the state.
We are working with the individuals listed below. Your research will support papers to be published under one or more of these leaders with a reference to your contribution.
The work is remote and will require that you have a computer and telephone. Thank you for your consideration. If interested, please contact me at the email below.
My best,
Jon
Jon Comola
Email: jrcomola@wrgh.org
Founder, Wye River Group, wrgh.org
Mobile; 512 695 8806
Danette Castle, CEO Texas Council
Jamie Defensing, CEO Texas Association of Health Plans
Maureen Milligan, CEO Teaching Hospitals of Texas.
Jana Eubanks, CEO, Texas Association of Community Health Centers
Kay Ghahremani, Texas Association of Community Health Plans CEO.
Mary Dale Peterson, Driscoll COO
Helen Kent Davis Senior VP Texas Medical Association.
Robert Hebert, Ft Bend County Court Judge (former)
Barbara Canales, Nueces County Court Judge
Ken Janda, Founder Blue Sky consulting
Laura and Patrick, Children’s Defense funds general counsel and president respectfully.
Sara Ramirez, Senior VP Texas Hospital Association
Mark Chassay, Medical Director Texas BCBSTX
Second Internship Opportunity
From: January to June 2022
We are seeking interns to work with us on a very timely social and public policy issue answering the question: “What are we seeing happening in Texas communities during the pandemic; socially, emotionally, economically, and with wellbeing?” Ideally the student(s) would have an active interest in public policy or public health.
This is an excellent opportunity to meet key health and health care influencers and public policy makers and learn more about the impact the pandemic is having on individuals, families, and communities across Texas. Understanding what we are experiencing and translating those learnings to inform our policy moving forward.
The internship will start in the Spring 2022 and may continue through the summer or fall term, for the right candidate. The candidate selected will research and draft background papers, on various aspects the pandemic is having on Texas communities, gather data and highlight contemporary writings that inform the conversation.
The effort will launch with a facilitated panel discussion among many of Texas; thought leaders; leadership of the; Texas Rural Hospital Association, Children’s Defense Fund, Texas Hospital Association, Texas Demographer, Texas Medical Association, University of Texas Health have all agreed to serve on a scheduled panel discussion January 18th 2022.
The discussion will be filmed, and the footage will be reconstituted into a 5–7-minute film short to be distributed across Texas communities through civic groups like the Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, Rotary club, etc. This is designed to stimulate dialogue and spark action to improve our ability to respond to crisis.
We are working with the individuals listed below.
The work is remote and will require that you have a computer and telephone. Thank you for your consideration. If interested, please contact me at the email below.
My best,
Jon
Jon Comola
Email: jrcomola@wrgh.org
Founder, Wye River Group, wrgh.org
Mobile; 512 695 8806
Danette Castle, CEO Texas Council
Jamie Defensing, CEO Texas Association of Health Plans
Maureen Milligan, CEO Teaching Hospitals of Texas.
Jana Eubanks, CEO, Texas Association of Community Health Centers
Kay Ghahremani, Texas Association of Community Health Plans CEO.
Mary Dale Peterson, Driscoll COO
Helen Kent Davis Senior VP Texas Medical Association.
Robert Hebert, Ft Bend County Court Judge (former)
Barbara Canales, Nueces County Court Judge
Ken Janda, Founder Blue Sky consulting
Laura and Patrick, Children’s Defense funds general counsel and president respectfully.
Sara Ramirez, Senior VP Texas Hospital Association
Mark Chassay, Medical Director Texas BCBSTX
Third Internship Opportunity
From: January to June 2022
Substance Use legislative interim recommendations
We are seeking interns to work with us on a very timely social and public policy issue what is the social and economic impact of the growth in substance use in Texas communities? Ideally the student(s) would have an active interest in public policy or public health.
This is an excellent opportunity to meet key health and health care influencers and public policy makers and learn more about the impact the pandemic is having on business, individuals, families, and communities across Texas. Understanding what we are experiencing and translating those learnings to inform our policy moving forward.
The internship will start in the Spring 2022 and may continue through the summer or fall term, for the right candidate. The candidate selected will research and draft background papers, on various aspects the pandemic is having on Texas communities, gather data and highlight contemporary writings that inform the conversation.
This initiative will support one of the THIN recommendations: (THIN is described below)
“Study the impact of the COVID pandemic on the rate of substance use. Include an analysis that compares substance use (all categories) before the pandemic, during the pandemic and the project long term costs to the state.”
The work is remote and will require that you have a computer and telephone. Thank you for your consideration. If interested, please contact me at the email below.
My best,
Jon
Jon Comola
Email: jrcomola@wrgh.org
Founder, Wye River Group, wrgh.org
Mobile; 512 695 8806
PLEASE NOTE this internship is NOT with THIN and is not directly affiliated with THIN. This is strictly a Wye River Group initiative designed to augment legislative interim study of substance use impact on Texas.
Texas Health Improvement Network Advisors:
The THIN Advisory Council is a group of thirty leaders from both traditional and non-traditional sectors impacting health. (See attached for list of current members.) When the Council was established in 2016 it included members representing the state health agencies, state healthcare trade organizations, and the large Texas public employer and academic systems, including Teachers Retirement System of Texas, Employees Retirement System of Texas, University of Texas System, Texas A&M University System, Texas Tech University System, and University of North Texas System. At its inception the Council also included representation from several regional national organizations including the Federal Reserve, Episcopal Health Foundation, Houston Department of Health and Human Services, and American Heart Association.