Experience

Galen Institute

• Think Tanks
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Advisor

  • May 2021 - Present

  Advance Health Policy Consensus – Work with a broad range of health policy leaders to facilitate consensus on next level reforms for public and private health insurance coverage. Pharmaceutical Pricing – Work with academic and think tank health policy leaders to educate on how government price controls impact new drug development and innovation. Advance Health Policy Consensus – Work with a broad range of health policy leaders to facilitate consensus on next level reforms for public and private health insurance coverage. Pharmaceutical Pricing – Work with academic and think tank health policy leaders to educate on how government price controls impact new drug development and innovation.



U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

• United States
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Director, Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs, Office of the Secretary

  • Aug 2019 - Jan 2021

  HHS "Front Door:" The HHS Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (IEA) is the "front door" for all external groups - including state, local, and tribal governments -- to the Department. It is located in the Office of the Secretary, has approximately 50 employees and 10 regional offices. IEA makes sure that outside groups know the priorities of the HHS Secretary and the Administration -- and that the Secretary knows the views and experiences of the American people, whose work and lives are touched by daily by HHS policies and programs.Director: My role was to lead the team in advancing the work of the Administration and to help shape policies and programs to reflect input from external audiences. This involved managing the people who worked governors and their health and human services agency leads, as well as state legislators, mayors, and local officials. Two critical issues during my tenure involved addressing the opioid epidemic, and then the onslaught of COVID in 2020.Some functions our office coordinated: --Roundtables and Listening Sessions- We engaged in proactive outreach to external groups to set up roundtables with the Secretary and other HHS senior staff on issues that were a high priority for the Department, allowing stakeholder input as policies were being considered.--Secretarial & Presidential Visits - We identified and arranged for the Secretary, President, First Lady, or Vice President to visit places across the country to observe the work being done on: COVID, the opioid epidemic, severe mental illness, drug pricing, transparency, and Medicare and insurance reform. -- Policy Promotion - We identified individuals and groups important to our work in individual policy areas and organized calls, Secretarial and White House meetings, and stayed in regular contact with updates.-- Respect for All Viewpoints: We placed a high value on having an open door to all perspectives, building relationships and working partnerships. Show less

• Deputy Director, Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs,Office of Secretary Alex Azar

  • Jan 2017 - Jan 2021

  HHS "Front Door:" The HHS Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (IEA) is the "front door" for all external groups - including state, local, and tribal governments -- to the Department. It is located in the Office of the Secretary, has approximately 50 employees and 10 regional offices. IEA makes sure that outside groups know the priorities of the HHS Secretary and the Administration -- and that the Secretary knows the views and experiences of the American people, whose work and lives are touched by daily by HHS policies and programs.Director: My role was to lead the team in advancing the work of the Administration and to help shape policies and programs to reflect input from external audiences. This involved managing the people who worked governors and their health and human services agency leads, as well as state legislators, mayors, and local officials. Two critical issues during my tenure involved addressing the opioid epidemic, and then the onslaught of COVID in 2020.Some functions our office coordinated: --Roundtables and Listening Sessions- We engaged in proactive outreach to external groups to set up roundtables with the Secretary and other HHS senior staff on issues that were a high priority for the Department, allowing stakeholder input as policies were being considered.--Secretarial & Presidential Visits - We identified and arranged for the Secretary, President, First Lady, or Vice President to visit places across the country to observe the work being done on: COVID, the opioid epidemic, severe mental illness, drug pricing, transparency, and Medicare and insurance reform. -- Policy Promotion - We identified individuals and groups important to our work in individual policy areas and organized calls, Secretarial and White House meetings, and stayed in regular contact with updates.-- Respect for All Viewpoints: We placed a high value on having an open door to all perspectives, building relationships and working partnerships. Show less



Office of the House Majority Whip, Steve Scalise

• U.S. Capitol

• Senior Policy Advisor & Coalitions Coordinator

  • Jun 2015 - Jan 2017

  --Advise House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) on all issues moving though the House Judiciary, Education, and Oversight and Government Reform Committees --Work with external advocacy and policy groups/individuals to build support for policy victories --Understand and provide leadership on the political and policy landscape --Advise House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) on all issues moving though the House Judiciary, Education, and Oversight and Government Reform Committees --Work with external advocacy and policy groups/individuals to build support for policy victories --Understand and provide leadership on the political and policy landscape



The Heritage Foundation

• United States
• Think Tanks
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Director of Strategic Operations: Health Policy, Budget, Tax, Entitlements

  • Apr 2010 - May 2015

  The Heritage Foundation, a "think tank" located on Capitol Hill, is devoted to formulating and promoting conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense. With over 250 employees and a $95 million dollar annual budget, Heritage's top-notch policy analysts have been advising Hill and Executive branch members/staff on public policy since 1973. Managed cross-departmental teams representing the top priority issues for the institution: -- Health Reform -- Budget, Taxes, Spending, & Entitlement Reform Served as a "bridge" between the policy analysts and Heritage’s marketing divisions (Communications, External Relations, Government Relations, and Strategic Marketing). Responsibilities included: (1) Partnering with the policy teams to develop and build-out the goals and strategies in each broad policy area; (2) Ensuring unilateral alignment with Heritage's "Leadership for America" goals; (3) Identifying/facilitating opportunities for cross-departmental synergy; and (4) Identifying/facilitating opportunities for maximum exposure of Heritage's analytical work. Show less



AmeriChoice

• Hospitals and Health Care
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Director, New Business Development

  • Dec 2007 - Dec 2008

  AmeriChoice is an $8 billion dollar subsidiary of UnitedHealth which contracts with more than 20 states to provide managed care services for public programs like Medicaid and SCHIP. My role involved working with state officials to help them reduce their state's uninsured rates by expanding health coverage to additional populations. This position focused on health reform at the state level -- as opposed to the federal level where change had been stymied. I gained experience working in a large corporate setting, and a stronger grasp of Medicaid, SCHIP, and managed care strategies. Show less



Coalition for Affordable Health Coverage & Jefferson Government Relations

• Executive Director & Senior Director

  • Jan 2003 - Dec 2008

  The Coalition for Affordable Health Coverage is a Washington-based lobbying group made up of over 20 healthcare associations and companies. CAHC's focus is to advocate for change that makes private health insurance more affordable and available, and to strengthen the health care safety net for low income individuals. CAHC's diverse stakeholder membership draws from every major health interest, including: • Provider groups like the AMA and American Hospital Association, • Business groups like the US Chamber and International Franchise Association; • Insurance groups like AHIP, Aetna, Assurant, and Cigna; • Pharmaceutical groups like PhRMA, Bayer, Wyeth, GSK; • Consumer groups like those representing farmers and other small business organizations whose members have trouble obtaining & affording health insurance. My role as Executive Director included building the fledgling coalition in terms of size, budget, influence, presence, and leading the lobbying and outreach of CAHC members. Show less



U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

• United States
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Director, Adolescent Family Life Program

  • 1987 - 1988



U.S. Senator Don Nickles

• Legislative Director, Legislative Assistant

  • Jan 1981 - Jun 1987

  Managed legislative team, provided leadership regarding strategy, analysis, and communication efforts for legislative agenda. Covered all health, education, welfare, judicial, and "social issues" for Senator during his term on the Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee. Managed legislative team, provided leadership regarding strategy, analysis, and communication efforts for legislative agenda. Covered all health, education, welfare, judicial, and "social issues" for Senator during his term on the Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee.