Amy Downs joined the Colorado Health Institute (CHI) in 2005. She is senior director for policy and analysis and responsible for managing CHI’s policy and analysis portfolio and analytical staff.

Amy regularly makes presentations throughout the state addressing health policy issues and evidenced-based policy options. She provides technical assistance to CHI’s key stakeholders and facilitation services to diverse groups seeking to reach consensus on health policy issues. As a member of CHI’s executive team, Amy regularly collaborates with key constituents and stakeholders to ensure CHI’s analyses are commensurate with their priorities.

Previously, Amy served as a senior health care analyst and assistant director of the Colorado Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB). Prior to her tenure at OSPB, she was an economist for the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group where she focused on economic and private sector development in Eastern and Central Europe. She also worked as supervisor of credit operations for Pro Mujer-Bolivia where she provided financial literacy classes to low-income women and assisted them in establishing and sustaining micro enterprises.

Amy was a Fulbright Scholar in Sofia, Bulgaria, where she conducted research on private sector development in the Balkans and taught economics at the New Bulgarian University. She earned her master’s degree in public policy from the University of Michigan and BA in political science from Grinnell College. She is a member of the Denver Association of Business Economists. 

Raised in Colorado, Amy enjoys the many recreational opportunities in Colorado. She is an enthusiastic swimmer and long distance runner and has completed a series of marathons. When she’s not running after her two sons, she enjoys traveling internationally with her husband.