Dari Pogach

Senior Consultant

Health Management Associates

Washington, DC

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Dari Pogach has more than 15 years of experience working with clients, communities, nonprofit organizations, policy makers, and state and national government leaders. As a senior official with the District of Columbia’s Department of Aging and Community Living, Dari led the agency’s adult protective services, case management, and nursing home transition teams. She developed and implemented a strategic plan for her division to support older adults and disabled individuals while maintaining their rights to self-direction and self-determination. Dari also oversaw the return of several agency operations and services from the COVID-19 public health emergency status.

As an attorney, Dari advocated for individual clients and worked on local and national reform efforts to improve access to self-directed, high-quality supports and services. At the American Bar Association’s Commission on Law and Aging, Dari developed nationally lauded tools and programs for attorneys and other professionals, facilitated stakeholder engagement across the country, and led multimillion dollar projects dedicated to adult guardianship reform. Dari has written and presented extensively on a variety of disability and aging issues, including the right to self-determination; supported decision-making; elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation; adult guardianship and alternatives; end of life planning; and home and community-based services (HCBS).

Dari began her career as a legal services attorney and represented clients as they navigated complex and bureaucratic social services systems to access crucial services and supports. She approaches her work with the passion of an advocate and a commitment to achieve the best possible outcomes for her clients and the populations they serve. She is a natural collaborator who intuitively shares information and ideas during the problem-solving and strategic planning process.

Dari earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Education from City College of New York, and a Juris Doctor from American University’s Washington College of Law.

When she’s not working, Dari enjoys spending time with her three children and visiting Washington, D.C.’s free museums.