Richard Thomason

Richard Thomason is a program officer for the Health Care and Coverage team, managing the health reform and coverage expansion grantmaking portfolio and programming efforts. 

Prior to joining the Foundation, Mr. Thomason was the policy director for
SEIU - United Healthcare Workers West, a union local representing healthcare workers in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and home care programs throughout California.  At SEIU, Mr. Thomason was deeply involved in the full range of healthcare reform and healthcare system issues facing SEIU and its membership. Prior to his role at SEIU, he served as a health policy consultant for former California Assembly Majority Leader Dario Frommer, as a consultant for the Assembly Health Committee and the Assembly Insurance Committee, and as a fiscal and policy analyst for the Legislative Analyst's Office. In addition to his work in the California legislature, Mr. Thomason has also worked as a community relations representative for Kaiser Permanente and as legislative staff to U.S. Senator Bill Bradley.

Mr. Thomason has been a member of numerous boards and commissions, including the Alameda Alliance for Health Board of Governors, the California Health Care Coalition, the Berkeley Community Health Commission, and the Alameda County Public Health Advisory Commission. 

Mr. Thomason has a master’s degree in public affairs with a concentration in domestic policy from Princeton University and a bachelor of arts from Reed College.