Steve Freedman, Ph.D., F.A.A.P., is the Founder and Executive Director of the Institute for Child Health Policy of the State University System of Florida. He is Professor of Pediatrics and Political Science at the University of Florida and Affiliate Professor of Pediatrics and Public Health at the University of South Florida. Dr. Freedman has an extensive background in senior positions in Florida's executive branch agencies involved with health care, social services and education. He has also been Associate Chairman of the University of Florida's Department of Pediatrics. The American Academy of Pediatrics has acknowledged his national reputation for creative program development in child health through awards honoring him, including Honorary Fellowship in the Academy. Dr. Freedman and his colleagues have designed a number of national model programs including: 1. A statewide nurse-based case management program for chronically ill children; 2. An innovative day health care facility for medically and technology dependent children; and 3. A school enrollment-based health insurance program designed to bring down the cost of comprehensive health insurance for school children and their siblings. The latter program, Florida Healthy Kids Corporation, won the 1996 Ford Foundation/Harvard Kennedy School of Government "Innovations in American Government Award". He has been called upon to testify before Congress and the Florida Legislature on the organization and financing of child health services. He has also serves as Chair of the Health and Human Services Commission of the Southern Regional Education Board and served on a study committee of the Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences.

For more information on the Institute for Child Health Policy visit http://www.ichp.edu/