The John A. Hartford Foundation Announces Hiring of Leslie J. Pelton as Senior Program Officer

New York, NY (January 30, 2025) - The John A. Hartford Foundation is pleased to announce that Leslie J. Pelton, MPA, has joined the organization as a senior program officer. Leslie brings two decades of experience in health systems innovation with a deep commitment to improving the quality of care for older adults.

Leslie is a nationally recognized leader in the Age-Friendly Health Systems movement, an initiative of The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, in partnership with the American Hospital Association and Catholic Health Association of the US. The initiative is enhancing the care of older adults by promoting the equitable, reliable delivery of evidence-based care that reduces harm and always centers on what matters to older patients.

Prior to joining the foundation, she served as vice president at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), where she collaborated with funders and national partners to design the Age-Friendly Health Systems movement. Under her leadership the movement expanded to reach over 4,000 sites of care and is significantly improving the care of millions of older adults across the country. Leslie is the co-editor of the textbook, Age-Friendly Health Systems - A Guide to Using the 4Ms While Caring for Older Adults, and has co-authored numerous publications on the subject.

Before her tenure at IHI, Leslie led her own firm, working with innovative health care leaders to develop new models integrating research, clinical care, and policy to drive improved health outcomes. She also built the Human Capital practice at Deloitte Consulting, focusing on the human factors associated with adopting strategic and operational innovations.

“Leslie brings us an unparalleled depth of knowledge and direct experience in growing the Age-Friendly Health Systems movement,” said Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN, president of The John A. Hartford Foundation. “Her passion for driving forward age-friendly care and her commitment to improving health care for all older adults will be invaluable as we continue to advance our mission.”

Leslie holds an MPA from the University of Pennsylvania and a BA from Connecticut College.