Medford-based Network Health appoints Nadia Sharif to manager of corporate marketing and media relations

   Network Health Appoints Manager of Corporate Marketing and Media Relations

 Health plan promotes communications program manager  

MEDFORD, Mass. — Network Health, a nonprofit health plan that provides access to comprehensive health care for more than 215,000 Massachusetts residents, announced today that it has promoted Cambridge, Mass., resident Nadia Sharif, to manager of corporate marketing and media relations. Sharif previously served as Network Health’s communications program manager.

“We are thrilled to have Nadia play an even larger role in our corporate marketing efforts,” said Debbie Gordon, Network Health chief marketing and external affairs officer. “In one short year on the Network Health team, Nadia has been instrumental to Network Health’s ability to achieve our public relations goals and has led numerous campaigns and branding initiatives. Nadia brings deep media relations expertise and blue chip publicity experience to Network Health and gives us an opportunity to deploy leading practices to improve our results.”

As manager of corporate marketing and media relations, Sharif will be responsible for managing Network Health’s internal and external communications, driving public and media relations strategies, and leading marketing operations processes and special projects. These responsibilities include planning, creating, implementing, tracking, and evaluating marketing and communications initiatives. Sharif will also be responsible for managing corporate branding and identity as well as driving market research and data analysis to inform public relations strategies.

Sharif joined Network Health in 2012 as the health plan’s communications program manager. In this role, she managed the communication needs of Network Health’s executive team, the day-to-day public relations strategy development, ideated and executed television and radio marketing campaigns, and managed social media strategy and execution.

Prior to joining Network Health, Sharif served as a marketing and communications officer for Kenya-based Western Seed Company, a leading provider of hybrid seed to small-scale farmers in East Africa. Sharif previously served as a publicist, domestic publicity for Warner Bros. Pictures Inc. in New York City where she executed publicity campaigns for new movie releases to maximize exposure. Sharif received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Language from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA. She currently resides in Cambridge, Mass., with her husband who is studying at Harvard Business School.

About Network Health

Since 1997, Network Health has provided access to high-quality health care for Massachusetts residents with low and moderate incomes. Network Health is a nonprofit, comprehensive health plan serving members through Network Health Together^® (MassHealth), Network Health Forward^® (Commonwealth Care), Network Health Extend^™ (Medical Security Program), and Network Health Choice (an individual and small-group plan).

To improve the health and wellness of its more than 215,000 members and the diverse communities it serves, Network Health offers fully integrated, in-house care management, providing a team of medical, behavioral health, social care, and pharmacy professionals who coordinate member care. Network Health partners with more than 20,000 primary care providers, specialists, hospitals, and community organizations statewide.

Network Health earned the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s (NCQA) “Excellent” Health Plan Accreditation status, NCQA’s highest accreditation rating, for its Network Health Together plan. In 2012, NCQA’s Health Insurance Plan Rankings ranked Network Health as the third-highest Medicaid Health Plan in the United States. Since 2010, Network Health has ranked among the top 10 Medicaid health plans nationally, according to NCQA’s Health Insurance Plan Rankings — Medicaid.

Network Health is among 10 health plans nationally and the first health plan in New England to earn the NCQA Multicultural Health Care Distinction. Additionally, Network Health is nationally recognized for its innovative programs; it won the Dorland Health Case In Point Platinum Award for “Best Integrated Case Management Program” in 2012 and “Best Overall Case/Care Management Program” in 2010. Network Health is also recognized for its top leadership team among health plans nationwide by HealthLeaders Media.

Network Health became a subsidiary of Tufts Health Plan in 2011. Tufts Health Plan is a nonprofit organization nationally recognized for its commitment to providing innovative, high-quality health care coverage to its more than 999,000 members. For 2012 – 2013, its HMO and POS programs are ranked second in the nation according to NCQA’s Health Insurance Plan Rankings — Private, and its Medicare Preferred HMO received a 4.5-star rating from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for 2013. With headquarters in Massachusetts, Tufts Health Plan also serves members in Rhode Island. For more information, visit www.tuftshealthplan.com.

For more information about Network Health, call 888-257-1985 or visit

www.Network-Health.org. Follow Network Health on Facebook and @_NetworkHealth on Twitter.

To learn about health plan options, Massachusetts residents can call the Health Connector at
877-636-4654 (TTY: 877-623-7773), Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., or visit www.mahealthconnector.org; call MassHealth at 800-841-2900 (TTY: 800-497-4648), Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or visit www.mass.gov/masshealth; or call the Medical Security Program at 800-908-8801, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or visit www.mass.gov/dua/msp.