The 2026 Rising Stars of the Profession: Mandy Ferguson

Social drivers of health (SDOH) are non-medical factors—like access to stable housing or nutritious foods—that influence our health. Recognizing this, and drawing on her background in public health, Mandy Ferguson advises state agencies, payers, providers and other health care stakeholders on how to address SDOH-related needs in historically underserved communities. Mandy's work with clients focuses on securing funding for, designing and implementing SDOH initiatives aimed at improving health, while simultaneously reducing unnecessary utilization and cutting costs.