Mr. Rutta is a senior health care executive dedicated to policy-to-practice solutions that interpret, influence, and improve federal and state health care policies to enhance public and private sector health care innovation, outcomes, and efficiency.
 
Mr. Rutta is President & CEO of the American Autoimmune Related Disease Association (AARDA), a national organization dedicated to addressing the problem of autoimmunity, the major cause of more than 100 serious chronic diseases. AARDA initiated and hosts the 39-member National Coalition of Autoimmune Patient Groups and is a longtime member of the National Health Council. Prior to stepping into his current role on October 1, 2019, he served as AARDA’s Federal Policy Consultant since March 2018.
 
Mr. Rutta is a Principal in ConnectHealth, LLC a Washington, DC-based consulting services company he established in 2017 and incorporated in 2018 to provide senior health/behavior health executives strategic insight and support in achieving objectives across the healthcare eco-system. His portfolio emphasizes the experiences of patients, their families and communities, and the role of diverse stakeholders in improving individual and population health, especially for persons with autism and other chronic conditions, age-related impairments and disabilities. Client partners include: patient advocacy groups, coalitions, associations, service providers, and investment firms.
 
In 2017, he transitioned from the position of President and CEO at Easterseals, a global nonprofit organization dedicated to the health, well-being, and success of people with disabilities, veterans, seniors, and families. For most of his career, he was located in Washington, DC, at Easterseals’ Office of Public Affairs, overseeing federal and state legislative and regulatory activities, federal grant development, and international knowledge exchange. His career experience has been in acute care, health care quality assurance, and health policy development and implementation.
 
He chairs the Board of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD), a national coalition of nearly 100 patient, provider, and community organizations, business and labor groups, and health policy experts committed to raising awareness of chronic disease in America and globally. He has been involved with PFCD as a partner organization leader and board member since 2007.
 
He is a Vice President and Secretary of American Eagle Lifecare Corporation and has been a member of its Board of Directors since 2008.
 
He holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Sociology and a Masters of Arts degree in Politics, focusing on international health policy.