David Bilardello, M.B.A., is the new vice president for government affairs and chief of staff at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Bilardello has three decades of leadership experience with large health care systems and has focused exclusively on government relations and public policy for the past 15 years. From 2016 through 2023, he served as vice president of government relations and public policy for Spectrum Health and Corewell Health, a large not-for-profit Michigan health system. Bilardello developed and led the system’s public policy and advocacy efforts, maintaining positive relationships with elected officials at all levels and partnering with federal and state entities to protect and enhance government funding of health care for Michigan residents. 

“David will help us continue to expand our impact as a regional referral center and our role as a trusted leader in advancing the health of children, families and communities,” says Alicia Schulhoff, M.H.A., FACHE, president of Johns Hopkins All Children’s.

Bilardello replaces Kathy Gillette, who joined the hospital in 2022 and has more than 30 years of experience in health care organizations in Florida.

“I am very grateful to Kathy Gillette for her outstanding service as vice president of government affairs and chief of staff,” Schulhof says. “She has been a strong advocate for the hospital, our patients and the communities we serve. Kathy helped secure significant state and federal funding and developed strong relationships with key stakeholders across the state on behalf of the hospital.”

During the COVID pandemic, Bilardello collaborated with the Michigan governor’s team and administration to ensure that clinical teams had the flexibility needed to provide ongoing and appropriate care across Spectrum locations, and he successfully advocated for COVID-19 relief and vaccine distribution support. He also worked closely with the Michigan Hospital Association to secure $300 million to help health systems across the state recruit and retain hospital employees.

Bilardello’s advocacy included a focus on the health of Michigan’s children. He secured $54 million in state funding to support Spectrum’s efforts to improve pediatric behavioral health and pediatric services in Michigan and to expand a program with the goal of reducing disproportionately high rates of infant mortality and low birthweight in communities with the greatest need.

From 1996 to 2016, Bilardello held leadership roles with Priority Health, including executive director for public policy. The not-for-profit health benefits company has more than a million members in Michigan and provides affordable coverage and equitable access to care. He worked with state leadership and the Michigan congressional delegation to advocate for health policy that enhanced choices and coverage for the state’s children and families. 

With his extensive experience leading Spectrum’s government relations and policy efforts along with his work guiding Priority Health’s commitment to equitable coverage, Bilardello brings a broad range of expertise that will support our Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital strategic plan priorities to pursue excellence and cultivate healthy and thriving communities.

Most recently, Bilardello was a government engagement manager for Transfr, helping to develop and implement state level partnerships for virtual reality-based workforce development initiatives for health care and other sectors.

Bilardello was a member of the Michigan Hospital Association Legislative and Policy Panel and served as member and chair of the Grand Rapids Chamber Health and Human Resources Committee. He received a bachelor of science in business administration and marketing from University of Illinois and a master of business administration in finance from Northern Illinois University. In addition, he completed coursework in international economics with National University of Singapore.