About Us

• About

  A distinguished national healthcare leader with experience as a director, clinician, scientist, educator, and regulator specializing in market access, regulatory, and policy at Rubrum Advising.

• Experience

  • Former Chief Medical Officer & Director, Center for Clinical Standards and Quality, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Responsible for executing all national clinical, quality, and safety standards for healthcare facilities and providers, as well as establishing coverage determinations for items and services that improve health outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries.
  • Oversaw a budget of $1.7 billion and 850 individuals at CMS. Utilized novel quality measurement, payment strategies and care paradigms, and worked towards developing the National Quality Strategy and the first universal foundation for quality measurement.
  • Member of the CMS/HHS executive team developing pandemic response including COVID, MPOX, and planning for future pandemic response strategies.
  • Advised the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association Technology Evaluation Center, pharmaceutical and device companies, and international health systems on the assessing of quality, outcomes, and cost-effectiveness of care.
  • Experienced clinician, actively practicing providing anesthesia at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
  • Emeritus Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.

• Awards

  • Modern Healthcare’s 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives. (2023)
  • Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching from the University of Pennsylvania. (2016)
  • Distinguished Alumni Award from SUNY. (2011)
  • Member of the National Academy of Medicine (formerly Institute of Medicine) of the National Academy of Sciences. (2007-Present)
• Memberships and Organizations
  • Senior Advisor, Bipartisan Policy Council.
  • Visiting Fellow, Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy.
  • Senior Advisor, FasterCures at the Milken Institute.
  • Safety Committee Co-Chair and Steering Committee Member, Coalition for Health AI (CHAI).
  • Health IT Advisory Committee (HITAC) Member, Office of the National Coordinator (ONC).
• Education
  • Masters in Law, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.
  • Residency in Anesthesiology, Yale University.
  • Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook.

• Outside of work

  • Action movie lover
  • Jazz aficionado
  • Yogi
  • World traveler

• About

  Matthew leads day-to-day operations, business strategy, growth planning, and execution at Rubrum Advising and Rubrum Solutions. He works alongside co-founder Lee Fleisher to translate the company’s clinical, policy, and market access vision into scalable business strategy, client delivery, team infrastructure, and product growth.

• Experience

  • Leads day-to-day operations, business strategy, growth planning, and execution.
  • Oversees commercial strategy, client delivery, product growth, and cross-functional coordination across Rubrum’s advisory and technology teams.
  • Brings consulting experience across healthcare law, Medicare, FDA policy, legal ethics, and patient advocacy regulation.
  • Formerly with Leavitt Partners, where he advised and managed healthcare alliances focused on Medicare and Medicaid enrollment and regulation, quality measurement, healthcare data interoperability, and related policy issues.
  • Graduate Fellow at the CMS STARS program, supporting Medicaid quality policy for the CHIP Quality Rating System.

• Memberships and Organizations

  • Chair, Board of Directors, Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools
  • Board Member, Masonic Cancer Center Philanthropic Board, University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF)
  • Former Clinical Diagnostics Executive Steward and Working Group Member, Medical Device Innovation Consortium (MDIC)
  • Former Vice Chair of Programming, RAPS Twin Cities Chapter

• Education

  • Master of Public Health (M.P.H), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
  • Doctor of Law (J.D.), with a Certificate in Health Law, University of Maryland Francis Carey School of Law.

• Outside of work

  • Professionally trained opera singer and music teacher
  • Woodworker

• About

  28-year veteran of CMS and former executive vice president and head of payment and health care delivery policy at AdvaMed, the world’s largest medical technology association. Advises clients on market access payment pathways for novel technologies and therapies.

• Experience

  • Led AdvaMed’s Payment and Health Care Delivery Policy department, developing and advocating for policies to ensure and expand patient access to medical technologies by improving coverage, coding, and payment processes used by Medicare and commercial payers.
  • Served for 28 years at the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), where she led work in the Medicare fee-for-service program.
  • Served as Senior Executive and Director of CMS’s Hospital and Ambulatory Policy Group, where she had responsibility for payment and benefits policy on the acute care side of the Medicare Fee-For-Service Program.
  • Led COVID-19 response as the agency’s Pandemic Response Coordinator.

• Education

  • Master of Public Policy, The College of William and Mary.
  • B.A. in Political Science, McDaniel College.

• About

  A recognized national healthcare leader with experience using evidence to guide change, supported by experience in physician practice management and hospital operations, and as a director, educator, and regulator. Laura specializes in market access, quality of care, hospital-physician alignment, and policy at Rubrum Advising.

• Experience

  • Former Director, Division of Policy and Evidence Review, Coverage and Analysis Group, Center for Clinical Standards and Quality, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Responsible for evidence analysis and determination of national Medicare coverage policy, overseeing National Coverage Determinations for items and services that improve health outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries.
  • Experienced practice leader, most recently as Professor of Radiology and Surgery at Emory University School of Medicine and Chief of Radiology Services at Grady Health System in Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Former Chair of Radiology at University of Tennessee Medical Center.
  • Experienced clinician, actively practicing vascular and interventional radiology.
  • Board of Examiners, Baldrige National Quality Award.

• Awards

  • Elected Fellow of the Society of Interventional Radiology.
  • Elected Fellow of the American Heart Association.
  • Elected Fellow of the Society for Vascular Medicine.
• Memberships and Organizations
  • Chair, Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention Council, American Heart Association.
  • Member, Advisory Board, Neiman Health Policy Institute.
  • Past President, Society of Interventional Radiology.
  • Member, American Board of Vascular Medicine Endovascular Assessment Committee.
  • National Rural Health Association, Certified Rural Hospital CEO.
• Education
  • Master of Healthcare Administration (M.H.A.), University of Illinois, Chicago School of Public Health.
  • Fellowship in Vascular and Interventional Radiology, University of Washington.
  • Residency in Radiology, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA.
  • Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

• Outside of work

  • Avid skier and snowboarder
  • Road cyclist and mountain biker
  • Dog lover

• About

  A distinguished healthcare leader in the medical device industry, known for her expertise in market access, health economics, and reimbursement policy. Tamara specializes in developing payer-focused strategies to successfully commercialize new technologies at Rubrum Advising.

• Experience

  • Former Vice President of Global Market Access, Health Economics, and Reimbursement at Zimmer Biomet.
  • Key leadership positions in medical device organizations, including serving as the Vice President of Reimbursement and Health Economics at Nevro and Senior Director of Global Neuromodulation Reimbursement at Abbott.
  • Extensive experience in developing effective reimbursement and payer education strategies, leading to favorable coverage and reimbursement policies for new technologies including implantable devices.
  • Experience successfully recruiting top talent to build high-performing Market Access teams focused on strategic and tactical efforts.

• Memberships and Organizations

  • Committee Chair for the industry leadership group focused on advancing Health Economics and Patient Value (HEPV) with the Medical Device Innovation Consortium (MDIC).
  • Foundation Board Member, Junior League of Denver.

• Education

  • Masters of Business Administration (M.B.A.), University of Houston.

• Outside of work

  • Tennis
  • Snow skiing
  • Cheering for the Denver Nuggets!

• About

  Tamara designs commercialization strategies—bridging evidence planning, regulatory milestones, and payer engagement—from early development and pre-FDA authorization through full market launch.

• Experience

  • Former Director of CMS’s Coverage and Analysis Group (CAG), shaping national coverage standards for devices, drugs, biologics, and preventive services supporting 65+ million Medicare beneficiaries.
  • Oversaw over 500 national coverage determinations, driving annual updates of over 800 codes annually to ensure accurate and efficient claims process. Responsible for operationalizing 13 prevention statutes, over 30 prevention policies, touching every Medicare beneficiary.
  • Led creation of CMS’s new coverage pathway for FDA breakthrough devices—impacting more than 780 technologies and ensuring patients had timely access to innovations with proven outcomes.
  • Modernized the agency’s Coverage with Evidence Development (CED) policy, cutting timelines for final guidance by more than half, and published landmark guidance documents that set new standards for transparency and predictability.
  • Developed foundational collaboration between FDA and CMS. Executed the foundational overarching agreement for interagency data and information exchange and created the FDA/CMS parallel review program.
  • Prior to CMS, served as a legislative assistant in the U.S. House of Representatives.

• Awards

  • 2022 CMS Executive of the Year.

• Education

  • Doctor of Law (J.D.), University of Baltimore

• About

  An accomplished attorney, consultant, and policy expert with extensive experience in FDA regulation and novel healthcare technology, specializing in regulation and policy at Rubrum Advising. She also serves as general counsel at the firm.

• Experience

  • Former Deputy Director for Policy, Center for Devices and Radiological Health at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Nancy led the development and implementation of the FDA’s device regulatory policy for novel technologies such as digital health products, mobile medical apps, direct-to-consumer genetic tests, and more.
  • Initiated and championed a pilot program to allow parallel review by FDA and CMS of innovative technologies, and led policies for pre-submissions, the 510(k) program, and de novo review of novel technologies.
  • Partner, Food, Drug, and Medical Device Regulatory practice at Sidley Austin and Foley Hoag. Nancy’s practice focused on advising clients on all aspects of FDA oversight in the medical device, combination product, and digital health and life sciences arenas.
  • Private attorney and consultant, counseling major health clinics, private equity firms, laboratories, traditional medical device manufacturers, makers of consumer electronic and digital health products, and start-up developers of innovative AI-based devices.

• Awards

  • Award of Merit and Commissioner’s Award for Distinguished Service, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
  • Vincent F. Prada Award for pro bono service.

• Education

  • Doctor of Law (J.D.), Columbia Law School.

• Outside of work

  • Self-taught portrait artist
  • Avid gardener and knitter
  • Outdoors enthusiast

• About

  A recognized expert in real-world evidence, health technology assessment, and outcomes research, Elise has decades of experience working across health systems, health informatics, regulatory pathways, reimbursement strategies, and study design to better understand how to bring the right technologies and therapies to the right patient at the right time.

• Experience

  • At Oracle Life Sciences, developed innovative strategies to leverage artificial intelligence, real world data, and biostatistical analytics to improve patient outcomes.
  • Led Oracle’s strategy to modernize registry and other prospective real world data collection and guided its governance frameworks for ethical, legal and effective use of digital health tools, predictive modeling, and clinical decision support.
  • Directed ARHQ’s independent scientific analysis and comprehensive technology assessments for CMS, informing national coverage decisions and other policy issues.
  • Led development of the landmark AHRQ Registries Handbook, which has been published in four editions, translated to Chinese and adapted in Korean and is the standard for the development and interpretation of patient registries.
  • Earlier in her career, worked in research and development at several innovative MedTech companies.

• Education

  • Ph.D., Biophysics, Brandeis University
  • S.B., Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Outside of Work

  • Passionate umbraphile, willing to travel 1000 miles or more to see total solar eclipses.
  • Playing Skee-Ball on the boardwalk by the ocean.

• About

  An experienced health quality leader with deep knowledge of major health care trends and the issues that are of keen interest to hospital and health system CEOs and chief clinical leaders, as well as quality improvement strategies and regulatory compliance. Counseled hospital and system board members to deepen their understanding of quality and public policy. Earlier in her career, helped advance national patient safety efforts by leading the creation of the first national patient safety research agenda, conceptualized the development of the first evidence report on patient safety strategies, and led the creation of the federal agencies’ response to the Institute of Medicine’s report To Err is Human.

• Experience

  • Vice President for Quality and Patient Safety Policy for the American Hospital Association from 2002 – 2025. Led the team responsible for improving public policies that impact quality and patient safety, assisting hospitals and health systems, and working collaboratively with federal agencies, accrediting bodies, White House leaders and other national policy makers.
  • Served as liaison to the Joint Commission Board.
  • Led efforts to streamline quality measurement data collection and ensure appropriate use of information to foster higher quality care.
  • Led public emergency response efforts during COVID-19, Ebola, and many supply chain disruptions to ensure hospitals had information, supplies, and needed federal resources.
  • Worked with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to coordinate quality improvement activities and research across federal agencies. Oversaw many patient safety research grants.
  • Improved public policies related to the care delivery, with particular interests in teaching hospitals, organ donation and transplantation, surgical safety, and board engagement.

• Awards

  • Secretary’s Distinguished Service Award
  • Director’s Award for Outstanding Performance
  • The Alliance for Organ Donation and Transplantation Transformational Leader Award
  • Benson High Hall of Fame

• Education

  • BA in economics, Princeton University
  • Graduate work at Chapman University and The Johns Hopkins University
  • Excellence in Government Fellowship

• Outside of Work

  • Hiking
  • Swimming
  • Cheering on the always astonishing Baltimore Orioles

• About

  A distinguished clinician and healthcare leader with two decades of experience in healthcare strategy, oncology medical practice, translational/clinical research, and product development. Steve specializes in market access, regulation, and policy at Rubrum Advising.

• Experience

  • Served as the 24th Commissioner of Food and Drugs at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Oversaw both COVID and non-COVID regulatory affairs, including therapeutics and vaccine development, devices, diagnostics, and clinical trials.
  • Experience in medical product development and clinical trials spanning drugs, biologics, medical devices, and diagnostics.
  • CEO of Harbinger Health and CEO-Partner at Flagship Pioneering, leading strategy around preemptive care and early cancer detection.
  • Former Chief Medical Executive, Deputy President, and Chief Operating Officer (COO) at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. Steve provided executive leadership across research development, clinical trials, patient care, and health system management, as well as day-to-day management of business, clinical, and faculty matters.
  • Former Chair of Radiation Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine.
  • Extensive research experience focusing on the evaluation of the tumor microenvironment and signal transduction pathways involved in tumor response to proton therapy.

• Education

  • Fellowship and residency in Oncology at the National Cancer Institute.
  • Residency in Internal Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.
  • Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Temple University.

• Outside of work

  • CrossFit
  • Studying Italian

• About

  Marielle is an accomplished regulatory and quality leader in the medical device and IVD industries, known for her expertise in global regulatory strategy, quality systems, and clinical trial design. She specializes in guiding clients through complex regulatory pathways to accelerate market access and commercialization at Rubrum Advising.

• Experience

  • Former President and Senior Director across startup and growth-stage contract research organizations (CROs) and healthcare startups; consultant to healthcare organizations and medtech companies. Current Board Member of philanthropic healthcare foundations. Prior senior regulatory roles at Beckman Coulter (Danaher) and Starkey.
  • More than 20 years shaping global regulatory, quality, and clinical strategy for medical devices, IVDs, combination products, and AI-enabled technologies from development through commercialization.
  • Leads global regulatory submissions and approvals across FDA (De Novo, PMA, 510(k)), EU MDR/IVDR, Health Canada, PMDA, NMPA, and other international authorities.
  • Directs quality system strategy and execution, including audits, CAPA, risk management, inspection readiness, post-market surveillance, and FDA inspections (483 observations and warning letters).
  • Provides regulatory due diligence and quality system remediation supporting commercialization, strategic transactions, licensing, and acquisitions in life sciences and medtech.
  • Program Director and Adjunct Instructor for the M.S. in Regulatory Science program at the University of St. Thomas; previously taught international regulatory affairs at San Diego State University across medical devices, IVDs, pharmaceuticals, and biologics.

• Memberships and Organizations

  • Chair, Board of Directors, Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools
  • Board Member, Masonic Cancer Center Philanthropic Board, University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF)
  • Former Clinical Diagnostics Executive Steward and Working Group Member, Medical Device Innovation Consortium (MDIC)
  • Former Vice Chair of Programming, RAPS Twin Cities Chapter

• Education

  • CORe Credential of Readiness (Economics, Accounting, and Business Analytics), Harvard Business School (HBS)
  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Kinesiology, Arizona State University

• Outside of work

  • Avid runner, golfer and pickleball player
  • Loyal Minnesota Vikings and Wild fan
  • Enthusiastic reader of historical fiction
  • Chief cheerleader for my kids’ sports

• About

  Shane is a recognized expert in Medicare reimbursement strategy, having served as Senior Medical Director for a Medicare Administrative Contractor with responsibility for coverage, coding, and pricing decisions. He leverages this unique payer-side perspective to help manufacturers achieve widespread market access for innovative therapies, diagnostics, and medical technologies through evidence-based reimbursement and policy strategies.

• Experience

  • Former Senior Medical Director for a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) with extensive expertise in Medicare coverage, coding, pricing, medical policy development, and claims adjudication.
  • Recognized reimbursement strategist who has helped manufacturers, healthcare organizations, and innovators navigate complex market access challenges and achieve broad payer adoption for novel therapies, diagnostics, and medical technologies.
  • Board-certified Family Physician, Certified Professional Coder, and Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians with more than 20 years of clinical, operational, and healthcare leadership experience.
  • Trusted advisor to healthcare executives, manufacturers, and industry stakeholders on evidence development, reimbursement strategy, coverage policy, utilization management, and payer engagement.
  • Proven leader in developing data-driven medical policy, fraud and abuse prevention initiatives, and strategic programs designed to improve healthcare quality while ensuring regulatory compliance and payment integrity.
  • Retired U.S. Army National Guard Colonel and former senior medical advisor with extensive experience leading multidisciplinary teams, managing complex operations, and delivering strategic solutions in high-stakes environments.
• Memberships and Organizations
  • Board Certified in Family Medicine
  • Fellow, American Academy of Family Physicians (FAAFP)
  • Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
• Education
  • Doctor of Medicine (MD) – University of South Carolina School of Medicine
  • Master of Health Administration (MHA) – Medical University of South Carolina
  • Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry (cum laude) – College of Charleston
  • Bachelor of Arts, Chemistry (cum laude) – College of Charleston

• Outside of work

  • Avid reader with a particular interest in military, political, and American history.
  • Automotive enthusiast currently building a 1965 Shelby Cobra replica.

• About

  Michele brings 25 years of proven success driving coordinated, innovative solutions to complex reimbursement, regulatory, and policy challenges to accelerate commercialization of and patient access to state-of-the-art diagnostic tests.

• Experience

  • Former Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Market Access with Cepheid.
  • Held various positions in the federal government, including at the NIH, Food and Drug Administration and Congressional Research Service.
  • Extensive experience developing a holistic approach to addressing market access challenges in terms of coverage, coding, payment, policy and advocacy with public and private payers.
  • Trusted advisor and partner to healthcare executives, professional association members, and government stakeholders on emerging and evolving diagnostic challenges, including antimicrobial resistance, pandemic response to emerging pathogens, and non-invasive genetic and cancer testing.
• Memberships and Organizations
  • Voting Member, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Advisory Panel on Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Tests.
  • Member, Economic Affairs Committee, Association for Molecular Pathology.
  • Member, American College of Medical Genetics.
  • Member, Association for Diagnostics and Laboratory Medicine.
• Education
  • Ph.D., Health Services Research/Genetics and Public Policy, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health.
  • B.A., Biology, Goucher College.

• Outside of work

  • Puzzles
  • Reading
  • Water adventures on the Chesapeake Bay
  • Adventures with grandkids

• About

David is a veteran CMS leader who most recently served as director of the agency’s Quality, Safety & Oversight Group (QSOG). At Rubrum, he leads safety and compliance strategy for health systems and post-acute care providers, including survey and accreditation readiness.

• Experience
  • Spent a decade as director of the CMS Quality, Safety & Oversight Group, where he led a diverse group of over 120-federal employees with a $397 million annual budget in their mission to ensure and improve patient and resident health and safety in Medicare and Medicaid certified health care facilities across the country
  • Led development of sub-regulatory policy and compliance guidance for over 8,400 dedicated health and safety surveyors at the state and federal levels who perform quality of care inspections of more than 78,000 health facilities, including hospitals, nursing homes, home health, hospice, and other care settings, and over 320,000 laboratories certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA).
  • Provided performance oversight of the nine CMS-approved national accrediting organizations and national training and competency evaluations for the state and federal surveyor cadre
  • Joined CMS (then HCFA) through the Presidential Management Internship program; was with the Agency for more than 33 years, 23 of which were in CMS’ Dallas location.
• Awards
  • 2021 CMS Executive of the Year
  • 2014 CMS Excellence in Leadership Award
• Memberships and Organizations
  • 2014 graduate of the Federal Executive Institute
  • Honorary member of Pi Alpha Alpha, the National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Public Administration
• Education
  • Master’s in Public Affairs, University of Texas at Dallas
  • Bachelor’s in political science, Texas A&M University

• About

  Ryan is an accomplished regulatory professional with a history of combining regulatory science with hands-on execution. At Rubrum, he develops strategies that match clients’ business goals to the expectations of the U.S. FDA and international regulators. His technical depth covers manufacturing and process-change assessments, sterilization and bioburden control, design verification, QMS development, quality audit, and clinical research.

• Experience

  • Develops regulatory strategy for various medical device products in the areas of cardiology, opthamology, in-vitro diagnostics, dermatology, radiology, pediatrics, personal wellness, therapeutics, cosmetic devices, and general clinical instrumentation.
  • Provides strategic guidance on regulatory compliance and risk management for clients in the medical device and diagnostic industries.
  • Leads global regulatory submissions and approvals across FDA (PMA, 510(k)), EU MDR/IVDR, Health Canada, PMDA, NMPA, and many other international authorities.
  • Track record of turning complex technical data into clear, consistent regulatory language and spotting compliance risks early.
  • Deeply skilled in QMS planning, development, implementation, and remediation across all areas of development, product realization, manufacturing, CAPA, Change control, internal audit, and risk management.
  • Over 26 years of experience in the IVD and Medical Device industry with extensive experience as a leader and consultant to Medtech and in vitro diagnostic companies ranging in size from startup to industry-leading companies.
• Education
  • University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, B.S., Biology.

• Outside of work

  • Anything outdoors, hunting, fishing, pontooning.
  • Woodworking and Blacksmithing (Forging and metalworking).
  • Cooking–he’s a Mad Scientist in the kitchen.

About

Rachel is a healthcare policy professional with several years of experience translating complex regulatory and payment landscapes into clear, actionable strategy. She brings a unique blend of provider-side execution, government relations expertise, and experience advising senior stakeholders on data-driven decision-making. At Rubrum, she helps clients turn complex coverage, coding, and reimbursement questions into practical next steps.

Experience

• Former Program Director, Value Management at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), where she led enterprise efforts on CMS value-based payment and patient-reported outcomes programs.
• Served as an Administrative Fellow at Maimonides Health, a 711-bed safety-net system in Brooklyn, in an accelerated executive leadership program reporting to the CEO, COO, and SVPs.
• Experience in government relations, representing the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) at the federal and state levels on coverage, coding, and reimbursement issues, building coalitions on behalf of its members and managing the organization’s PAC operations.
• Advised a portfolio of healthcare association clients on policy strategy at SmithBucklin’s Government Relations Healthcare Practice.
• Got her start in policy as a Congressional Intern for Representative Pete Aguilar (CA-31) on Capitol Hill.

Education

• Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Public Policy, University of Redlands

Outside of Work

• Frequent traveler
• Proud mini dachshund owner
• Lover of NYC

About

With a background in public health research, federal health policy, and clinical evidence assessment, Tucker brings experience translating complex medical research into practical coverage policy recommendations. At Rubrum Advising, he draws on experience evaluating medical technologies, Medicare reimbursement policy, and clinical evidence to support regulatory and policy strategy.

Experience
• Former research consultant at Medicare Administrative Contractors First Coast Service Options and Novitas Solutions, developing coverage policies and conducting clinical evidence assessments.
• Former fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, leading population health and epidemiology research.
• Former disability program specialist at the Social Security Administration and Florida Department of Health.

Education
• Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), Usha Kundu College of Health, University of West Florida
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology, Florida State University

Outside of Work
• Hiker/backpacker
• Aspiring pilot
• Occasional professional entertainer (drumline for the Orlando Magic)

• About

  A biochemist by training, Tristen draws on a decade of experience in scientific research, federal policy, and health advocacy. She helps companies and the patients they serve build strong stakeholder engagement strategies while driving innovative market solutions. She specializes in advocacy and regulatory and policy strategy at Rubrum Advising.

• Experience

  • Former Legislative professional in the Office of the Director at the National Institutes of Health, serving as an agency liaison to Congress.
  • Former Fellow on the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee, working on health-related legislation.
  • Former Fellow with the National Cancer Institute’s Center for Research Strategy, analyzing NIH data to understand the impact of new grants and trainee policies.
  • Former Science policy fellow with the American Association for Cancer Research, developing congressional engagement strategies and regulatory responses.

• Education

  • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hardin-Simmons University

• Outside of work

  • House plant enthusiast
  • Hobby crafter
  • Fiction reader

• About

  An enthusiastic healthcare leader, bringing a unique blend of clinical and consultative experience to Rubrum Advising’s regulatory and policy strategies. At Rubrum, Sam focuses on understanding the changing healthcare policy landscape and its impacts on both clinical and operational sectors of the industry.

• Experience

  • Former Research Director and Product Quality Lead at Darwin Research Group, analyzing the growing national shift from volume to value-based care.
  • Clinical experience in neurosurgery, physical therapy and rehabilitation, optometry, orthopedics, and long-term care.
  • Research experience in national and regional healthcare trends, with a focus on helping industry organizations partner with care delivery networks to provide more cost-effective, collaborative patient care.

• Education

  • Masters in Healthcare Administration (M.H.A), Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University.
  • Co-Chair of Professional Development in the Health eLeaders Student Association, George Washington University.

• Outside of work

  • Professionally trained flutist
  • Distance runner
  • Amateur electronic music mixer

• About

  A dynamic healthcare professional with a unique background in nursing and business. Ariana leverages her clinical expertise, analytical skills, and strategic insight to drive innovation in healthcare, advancing both market access strategies and patient care at Rubrum Advising.

• Experience

  • Extensive hands-on experience as an operating room nurse, circulating and scrubbing in many surgical cases
  • Clinical expertise in the operating room environment – particularly ophthalmology and ENT
  • Spearheaded the development of a digital surgeon preference card system to enhance operating room efficiency and team coordination
  • Received a grant at the University of Pennsylvania to conduct and author a nationwide study on food insecurity and mental health in young adults with and without binge eating disorders during COVID-19
  • Clinical research experience assisting in multiple studies at the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders at the University of Pennsylvania

• Memberships and Organizations

  • Penn Nursing Alumni Board Committee Member
  • AORN
  • Tri-County Suburban REALTORS® / NAR
  • Alpha Iota Gamma

• Education

  • Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Villanova University – Specializations in AI/ML, Strategic Management, and Business Analytics
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) with a double major in Nutritional Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing

• Outside of work

  • Long distance runner
  • Realtor
  • Comedy lover
  • Big NFL/Eagles fan

• About

  A passionate public health professional, Allison employs her clinical research and analysis skills in developing Rubrum Advising’s market access strategies.

• Experience

  • Assisted in the strategy and implementation of a care management program for 600 students with multiple chronic conditions at ADAPT Community Network.
  • Coordinated the implementation of a grant-funded project collecting voice samples from people with speech disorders to improve voice recognition capabilities.
  • Produced materials and resources for patient advocates aiding in the coverage navigation of women’s healthcare services.
  • External communications and strategy at a gun violence prevention organization, focused on safe firearm storage and bipartisan solutions.

• Education

  • Master of Public Health (M.P.H), Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in the Health Policy and Management Department with a Certificate in Health Policy Analysis.
  • Cross-registration at Columbia Business School, in courses focused on the intersection of healthcare delivery and technology.

• Outside of work

  • SEC football fan (go Dawgs!)
  • Pop culture expert
  • Puzzle lover

• About

  Haley conducts research and policy analysis on healthcare regulation, clinical trials, CMS strategy, reimbursement, and quality measurement, supporting advisory projects that advance device, drug, and technology innovation in healthcare.

• Experience

  • Supported statewide behavioral health initiatives by improving federal grant data collection, training tools, and stakeholder engagement for a public health agency.
  • Coordinated large-scale mental health research across diverse college campuses, translating population-level data into insights for evaluation, funding, and policy advocacy.
  • Led editorial operations for a multidisciplinary health policy journal, managing publication standards and expanding engagement among academic and policy audiences.
  • Conducted research on climate impacts on pharmaceutical safety and efficacy in clinical trials, presenting findings to sustainability and research leadership.

• Education

  • Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) in Health Policy, Yale School of Public Health
  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience with minors in Environment and Law and Justice and Social Change, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

• Outside of Work

  • Energized by pilates, yoga, and running
  • Avid reader
  • Enjoys exploring the Boston food scene

• About

  Dhruv is a Biomedical Engineer with a background in product innovation and technical experience designing and creating novel medical devices from early-stage ideas. At Rubrum, works to bridge the gaps between clinical concept, research and development, and successful commercialization.

• Experience

  • Biomedical Engineer for Koning Health, working with a novel 3D CT-based diagnostic breast imaging system.
  • Developed a novel device in graduate school, translating a clinical need into a functional, validated surgical device.
  • Navigated quality systems and regulatory landscapes, working cross-functionally to ensure compliance from R&D to market.

• Education

  • Master of Biomedical Innovation and Development (MBID) – Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biomedical Engineering – Georgia Institute of Technology

• Outside of work

  • Listening to audiobooks
  • Playing sports
  • Working on engineering projects

• About

  A natural leader and analytical thinker, Eleanor brings an in-depth knowledge of public health systems to Rubrum Advising’s regulatory and policy strategies. Eleanor conducts robust analyses and develops novel strategies for healthcare challenges to improve outcomes for all.

• Experience

  • Experience in the Health Research and Training Program (HRTP) at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, working to increase Medicaid enrollment and improve access to care for children with disabilities.
  • Former criminal defense paralegal, with a focus on expanding healthcare services and legal representation within the Justice System.
  • Extensive experience in health education and curriculum development with interdisciplinary teams.

• Education

  • Master of Public Health (M.P.H), Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in the Health Policy and Management Department with a Certificate in Health and Human Rights.

• Outside of work

  • Recreational sports lover
  • College football fan
  • Half marathon runner

• About

  Emily has worked as a nurse in an ICU at a Level 1 Trauma Center, and at a local Federally Qualified Health Center. These unique clinical experiences have informed and inspired her passion for healthcare policy and driven her work in policy, legal, and advocacy roles.

• Experience

  • Member of research team at Johns Hopkins studying state legislative variations to support comparative policy analysis.
  • Coordinated federal and state legislative advocacy efforts and events for the Melanoma Research Foundation and LeadingAge Maryland.
  • Served as a Healthcare Policy Fellow for a U.S. Senator, contributing to policy research and legislative analysis.
  • Managed client communications, discovery, and legal filings as a paralegal in medical malpractice and litigation.
  • Delivered nursing care across ICU and FQHC primary care settings, coordinating care teams, and improving continuity of care for diverse patient populations.

• Education

  • Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), Johns Hopkins University, Concentration in Health Policy & Management, Certification in Healthcare Informatics
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.), Clemson University

• Outside of work

  • Long walks with friends
  • Crochet projects
  • Baking sweet treats

• About

  A dedicated finance professional who is committed to ensuring h4 and ethical growth for Rubrum.

• Experience

  • 17 years of increasing responsibility with health care organizations from Fortune 100 companies to start ups
  • Led multinational team driving operational savings at Evolent Health
  • Drove extensive cost of care savings as state level CFO of $2 billion Minnesota Medicaid plan
  • Partnered with EHRs and large pharmacies driving quality organization at Surescripts Health
  • Led growth at RedBrick Health, helping triple revenues in five years while transforming into a profitable organization and a successful merger Virgin Pulse

• Education

  • Masters of Business Administration (M.B.A.) Kelley School of Business, Indiana University
  • Bachelors of Arts (B.A.), University of Michigan

• Outside of Work

  • Retired Marathoner and Triathlete
  • Cooking, specifically working with BBQ smoker
  • Cheering for Michigan football and Minnesota Timberwolves

• About

  With more than two decades of experience in healthcare communications, marketing and consulting, Elly has a particular passion for helping early-stage and rapidly growing organizations find their voices and scale thoughtfully. At Rubrum, she leads enterprise communications, marketing, and engagement, helping fuel growth while staying rooted in its mission, vision, and values.

• Experience

  • Expertise building communications and marketing functions in early-stage and start-up environments, including consumer health companies, non-profits, patient advocacy organizations, and national campaigns
  • Spent nearly a decade at FGS Global (fka The Glover Park Group) advising health clients of all sizes on corporate and executive positioning, policy communications, workforce and labor concerns, M&A, and crisis management
  • Formerly served as Director of Communications and Marketing for the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), part of then-First Lady Michelle Obama’s work to end childhood obesity
  • Previously led media relations strategy, messaging, and reputation management efforts for AARP’s health products, international programs, and charitable and volunteer initiatives—including AARP Foundation’s debut as NASCAR’s first cause-related primary sponsor

• Education

  • Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) in Community Health, George Mason University
  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A) degrees in Journalism and International Politics, Penn State

• Outside of Work

  • Interior design enthusiast
  • Ever-hopeful gardener
  • Avid reader