Director, Health and Wellness

Sue Pechilio Polis, Director, Health and Wellness

Sue Pechilio Polis directs the health and well-being portfolio for NLC as part of the Institute for Youth, Education and Families. The portfolio includes the conceptualization, development and implementation of Cities of Opportunity, a multi-year effort to engage mayors and city leaders in comprehensively addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) through policy and systems change. With expertise in health policy, Sue’s work spans the connection to housing, economic opportunity, mental health and substance use disorders, obesity, trauma, and local systems alignment, and data for well-being. Prior to the National League of Cities, Mrs. Polis led the development and management of the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) external relations and strategic partnership efforts in support of the organization’s public policy goals. Her focus included multi-sector alignment in community health improvement, as well as workplace wellness and substance use disorders.

Prior to joining TFAH, Mrs. Polis worked at AARP on health and financial security-related issues with an emphasis on advancing policy to address the needs of vulnerable 50+ populations. Her focus areas included health care workforce, retirement savings, consumer protection, and low-income programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Low-Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Mrs. Polis was the first National Director of Advocacy for the American Heart Association. Mrs. Polis background also includes consulting on health, environmental and tobacco-related issues campaigns.

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