Emily Zalkovsky serves as chief of Medicaid and CHIP Services and as the state Medicaid director for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. She provides strategic direction and oversight for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), serving millions of Texans.

Zalkovsky has 18 years of experience in health and human services policy and operations. She previously served as deputy state Medicaid director, where she worked closely with leadership to drive strategic initiatives, represent the division with stakeholders, and build the division’s workforce and culture.

Outside of state government, Zalkovsky worked as a health care consultant and in the nonprofit sector, focusing on housing and health policy.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in Government and English and a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin.