Renee Mentnech has been with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) since 1988, and has served the agency in a variety of positions including as a Social Science Research analyst, Special Assistant to the Office Director, and as a manager for the last 17 years. She is a nurse by training and has a graduate degree in Health Policy from the University of Maryland. Currently, Mentnech is the Director of the Research and Rapid Cycle Evaluations Group; Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. The Research and Evaluation Group includes a staff of over 40 Masters and PhD level economists, health services researchers, epidemiologists, sociologists, pharmacists, and other clinicians. Mentnech provides leadership and executive direction within CMS for a wide range of health care financing research activities.