As a Senior Consultant, Emma Harrigan brings 15 years of healthcare policy experience to Freedman HealthCare, working with states and member associations across both data and policy domains to identify and implement data-driven policy initiatives and advocacy efforts.

Prior to joining FHC, Emma worked for the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (VAHHS), where she supported member hospitals in using data to advocate for mental health system reform, identifying opportunities for quality improvement and regulatory compliance, and foster productive relationships between providers and regulators to address complex healthcare challenges. She also served as the Director of Quality and Accountability for the Vermont Department of Mental Health, where her work focused on compliance, quality, performance improvement, report development, data systems, research, and technological infrastructure—leading to an increased emphasis on data use and performance accountability within the Department.

Emma is a graduate of Schreyer Honors College at Pennsylvania State University and holds a Master of Science in Psychology from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. She currently serves as a board member for the Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care (VPQHC) and as board chair for Vermont Information Technology Leaders (VITL).