Rising Star Steven Posnack

Name: Steven Posnack

Age: 28

Organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Health and Human Services Department

Title: Policy analyst

Nominated for: Playing a wide range of roles behind the scenes — drafting policies and guidelines, advising top officials on privacy and security matters, and coordinating work with health IT stakeholders across the country. Also serves as the project officer for the Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration, which works with 42 states and territories.

First IT mentor: Dr. Gerald Masson of the Johns Hopkins University Information Security Institute. Dr. Masson saw something in me before I did, paving the way for me to become the first JHUISI student to obtain a dual masters in information security and health policy.

Latest accomplishment: The successful completion of the Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration Phase 3 — a complex, $15 million project that included more than 40 subcontracts with governor-endorsed state and territory teams. I created the statement of work, served as project officer from beginning to end and had primary responsibility for day-to-day management.

Career highlight: When my office published the Nationwide Privacy and Security Framework for Electronic Exchange of Individually Identifiable Health Information. It took more than two years to complete, and I served as one of the principal drafters.

Favorite bookmark: ihealthbeat.org

Dream non-IT-related job: To start and manage my own restaurant.