Lisa Nickle is a clinical leader specializing in care management, complex care coordination, and public health policy implementation across California’s health systems. Beginning her career as a registered nurse in inpatient psychiatric care, Lisa transitioned into managed care during her time in the EMPH program, serving as a Care Management Specialist at L.A. Care Health Plan before joining Anthem as an RN Case Management Liaison for Special Programs. In that role, she led interdisciplinary care coordination for major state health initiatives, including Whole Person Care, the California Health Homes Program, and SB 1004 palliative care services. She currently serves as a Clinical Team Lead at Anthem, overseeing the administration and delivery of California’s CalAIM Enhanced Care Management program.

“It was through an EMPH alumni connection that I learned about and was hired into a position at L.A. Care while attending the EMPH program. One year later, it was due to another alumni connection—and my experience at L.A. Care—that I learned about and was hired into my position at Anthem! So, I would say that the EMPH, for me, has a pretty good ROI. This was one of the primary reasons I chose to attend the UCLA EMPH program; I was banking on the UCLA alumni network.”