Connecticut Department of Social Services
04/06/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/06/2026 14:29
Connecticut Department of Social Services announces leadership team for new Rural Health Transformation Program
HARTFORD, CT - The Connecticut Department of Social Services (CT DSS) today announced the formation of the Rural Health Transformation Program leadership team, naming four experienced public health professionals to guide the initiative. The program coordinates dozens of projects across more than a handful of state agencies with the goal of improving health outcomes for residents in Connecticut's rural communities.
The following individuals have been appointed to lead the program:
Daniel Sinclair, MPH - Director, Rural Health Transformation Program
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Mr. Sinclair brings more than 16 years of international public health experience as a Foreign Service Officer with USAID, where he held senior health positions in Guatemala, Nepal, Jordan, and Zambia. Most recently, he served as acting Deputy Assistant Administrator overseeing approximately $1 billion in annual programming. He also brings earlier experience in state environmental health policy and Peace Corps service in rural Peru. Mr. Sinclair holds an MPH from George Washington University and is a trained Executive Coach through Georgetown University. |
Julie Vigil, MS, MPH, CHC, CHRC, FACHE - Deputy Director of Operations
| Ms. Vigil will serve as the lead contact for non-DSS state agencies and will oversee contracting for those projects. She joins from the Department of Public Health, where she served as Branch Chief for the Community, Family Health & Prevention Branch. A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, she holds certifications in both Healthcare and Research Compliance, along with a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Quinnipiac University and an MPH from Goodwin University. |
Gretchen Hutula, MA - Assistant Director
| Ms. Hutula will manage day-to-day program operations and ongoing coordination with partner state agencies. She brings 28 years of experience securing and managing grants from a wide range of funders, including federal and state agencies, foundations, and multilateral donors. Most recently, she served as Director of Grants and Contracts at Generations Family Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center in eastern Connecticut. She holds both an MA and BA from American University. |
Margaret Ostafin, DHA, MPH, RN - Deputy Director of Projects
| Ms. Hutula will manage day-to-day program operations and ongoing coordination with partner state agencies. She brings 28 years of experience securing and managing grants from a wide range of funders, including federal and state agencies, foundations, and multilateral donors. Most recently, she served as Director of Grants and Contracts at Generations Family Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center in eastern Connecticut. She holds both an MA and BA from American University. |
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