The Monthly Review spotlights a different URACer each month in a Q&A. This month it's Brittany McCullough, who has been with URAC for 2 weeks!
TMR: When did you start at URAC and what brought you here?
Brittany: I started at URAC on February 20, 2018 as the health policy associate. I’ve long been interested in URAC having originally applied back in spring of 2017. I’ve always wanted to work for an organization centered on driving continuous quality improvement in the healthcare space. I’m generally interested in all things related to QI particularly in relation to health policy so my position here is a natural fit.
TMR: What were you doing before you came to URAC?
Brittany: I was a fellow at a small nonprofit centered on building consensus on national critical policy issues. I worked with the health reform roundtable, a bipartisan group of health thought leaders, including the likes of Sara Rosenbaum, a renowned Medicaid expert, Lanhee Chen, noted conservative policy expert and Ron Pollack, founding executive director of the progressive advocacy group Families USA. I did a lot of secondary research, compiled policy briefs, planned stakeholder meetings and provided administrative support to the group
TMR: Describe yourself in three words.
Brittany: Frank. Practical. Ambitious.
TMR: How do you like to spend your leisure time?
Brittany: Going to out my inner nerd but I secretly enjoy perusing the Federal Register. I also am a big urban art enthusiast and enjoy attending underground pop up shows. Lastly, I really enjoy live music and spoken word. I was an avid poetry writer up until I started grad school.
TMR: What’s your favorite restaurant?
Brittany: Honestly, I don’t think I have one. If I had to pick a go-to spot, I’d go with Sette Osteria on 14th St in NW because I absolutely love Italian food.
TMR: What do you like to watch?
Brittany: I probably watch tv shows more than movies but I love them equally. My all-time favorite shows are Grey’s Anatomy, My 600-lb Life, ESPN’s First Take and The First 48. A few shows I’m currently loving are Power, Insecure, The Chi, Stranger Things and How to Get Away with Murder. Favorite movie of all time is Save the Last Dance.
TMR: What kind of books do you like to read?
Brittany: I enjoy reading fiction from the Harlem Renaissance era. Think Richard Wright, Countee Cullen, and Claude McKay (James Baldwin too, though he was a bit past this time). The last book I enjoyed reading was Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes.
TMR: What's your favorite vacation spot?
Brittany: Again, that’s a hard question. I do love a good beach. I also love New York City so I’m a bit all over the place - it depends on my mood.
TMR: Are you a cat person or a dog person?
Brittany: Dogs all the way. I didn’t speak for 3 weeks after my poodle died roughly 6 years ago. I did recently get another dog and he is the light of my life.
TMR: Is there anything else that you would like us to know about you?
Brittany: I’ve seen Beyoncé live twice and it’s still not enough. I’m also a diehard Pittsburgh Steelers fan much to Aaron’s dismay. I live for the NFL season.
