Rubrum Advising Launches Government Affairs Practice Led by Former CMS and HHS Executive Thomas Corry

WASHINGTON, DC — June 11, 2025 — Rubrum Advising, a boutique firm rooted in clinical practice and dedicated to developing healthcare market access, regulatory and policy strategies that demonstrate the value of groundbreaking innovations to payers and providers, today announced the launch of a new government affairs and advocacy practice.

The practice is led by Thomas Corry, a nationally recognized healthcare strategist and former senior advisor to CMS Administrator Seema Verma. Corry and his team will help clients navigate federal policy and regulatory channels—often the most agile and high-impact paths for achieving meaningful healthcare reform.

“As healthcare innovation accelerates, patients deserve access to technologies and services that are safe, effective, reasonable and necessary,” said Lee Fleisher, M.D., M.L., founder of Rubrum Advising. “Tom brings exceptional insight into how policy is shaped at the highest levels of government. His experience in federal leadership, legislative and regulatory communication and strategic engagement will be an enormous asset to our clients. We’re thrilled to welcome him.”

Corry’s career spans more than 30 years at the intersection of healthcare, policy and communications. At HHS, he served as assistant secretary for public affairs, as well as senior advisor to Administrator Verma and director of communications for CMS. There he directed a $1 billion enterprise and led communications and public engagement during critical national efforts—including Medicare modernization, pandemic response and Operation Warp Speed.

Corry previously held leadership roles at Avēsis and was founder, CEO and president of Healthcare Data Insights & Analytics, a healthcare consulting firm known for data-driven advisory services.

“I’m honored to join the Rubrum team during this pivotal moment for healthcare innovation,” Corry said. “This outstanding group of experts understands not just the policy landscape and how to get things done within it, but also what clinicians need to keep patients healthy. The team’s deep knowledge of HHS, CMS and Congress means we’re uniquely equipped to help advance meaningful, measurable change.”

Joining Corry on the team is Tristen Tellman, a policy strategist with expertise in translating complex science into real-world access strategies. Tellman most recently served at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where she helped align congressional and stakeholder interests with advancing institutional priorities. Her background includes work with the National Cancer Institute, a fellowship on the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee and policy roles at the American Association for Cancer Research.