WhyReservoir
Reservoir Health helps organizations shape the policy, narrative, and market environments to enable health care innovation to reach patients.
We integrate policy, market enablement, and communications to shape how health care innovations are understood, valued, accessed, and adopted. We work with organizations developing new therapies, devices, diagnostics, digital health solutions, and models of care.
Robert is the Founder and President of Reservoir Communications Group. Immediately prior to founding Reservoir Robert was the Chief Advocacy and Alliance Development Officer for WellPoint, Inc. (now Elevance Health), one of the nation’s leading health benefits companies. Prior to joining WellPoint, Robert was President, Americas for APCO Worldwide, a global public affairs and strategic communications firm. During Robert’s two decades of experience in communications and advocacy he has become known for his work helping clients rethink previously intractable problems, taking innovative approaches to advancing policy goals, and helping organizations build strong and enduring brands that can help advance their business and policy objectives.
Jenny is a leading expert in federal health policy and strategy. She most recently led the development and implementation of legislative, regulatory, and political advocacy strategies as Executive Vice President of Policy, Research and Membership at PhRMA. She has previously held positions at The Lewin Group, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, and the State of New York.
Jenny earned her BA in Social Studies from Harvard University and her MBA from Harvard Business School.
Megan Tucker brings 25+ years of U.S. and global experience in pharmaceuticals, public health, corporate communications and stakeholder engagement. She counsels clients with a broad range of business, reputation and advocacy needs, and drives the operations for the firm.
Megan came to Reservoir after nearly a decade at Edelman, where she led the firm’s relationship with a global nutrition and wellness company, with a scope that spanned strategy, digital, media, PR programming, research and employee engagement. While primarily based in Washington, D.C., she was one of the firm’s inaugural Global Fellows and spent two years building and managing the Healthcare practice for Edelman United Arab Emirates and the Africa-Middle East region.
Megan was also a leader in GolinHarris’ social marketing practice, managing several non-profit and government client accounts; previous positions included The Georgetown Journal of International Affairs and The New Republic, two nationally distributed publications. She holds a B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.
Gretta Stone is an experienced policy and communications leader with deep knowledge of the biopharmaceutical sector and the health system more broadly. Drawing on her 20+ years of public affairs experience, she provides clients with thoughtful strategies to address complex challenges.
Before coming to Reservoir, she spent 15 years at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), where she led a range of priority issues related to the value and cost of medicines, the R&D process and incentives for innovation. Gretta also serves on the board of the Society for Women’s Health Research, an organization dedicated to advancing our understanding of the biological differences in disease and advocating to enhance women’s health. Prior to joining PhRMA, Gretta worked in a lab researching language and the brain at Georgetown University, where she received a B.S. in biology.
Clare is an Executive Vice President at Reservoir Communications Group with significant experience leading corporate communications, rapid response and crisis media efforts, brand management, and advocacy campaigns.
Prior to joining Reservoir, she led external communications for Morgan Health, a business unit within JPMorgan Chase focused on improving the quality, equity, and affordability of employer-sponsored health care. In this role, Clare managed the organization’s executive thought leadership, content development, media engagement, and event management for the Morgan Health team as well as support for its portfolio companies.
She also served as the lead spokesperson and press secretary for America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the national trade association representing the health insurance industry. Clare oversaw the industry’s communications strategy and media engagement on key policy issues, including the Affordable Care Act, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid Managed Care, and federal and state legislative priorities.
Before joining AHIP, Clare was an associate at APCO Worldwide, a global public affairs and strategic communications firm, where she managed campaigns spanning global and national healthcare issues, including the launch of a national advocacy effort around expanded access to childhood vaccines and health plans’ wellness and prevention efforts.
Clare has a B.A. in Journalism from Indiana University and completed her M.B.A. at the University of Maryland.
Eva possesses deep knowledge of the healthcare industry, having advised biopharmaceutical and digital health companies, high-growth start-ups, non-profits, integrated health systems, university research programs, grassroots advocacy campaigns and government agencies on communications and advocacy efforts. Before joining Reservoir, Eva was a vice president at a strategic communications and public affairs firm where she developed programs to advance corporate goals, execute thought leadership strategies, and establish healthcare technology companies for growth with biopharma, enterprise, providers and payers. In addition to working as a government contractor for the National Institutes of Health and at a global public relations firm, she previously led communications strategy for a District of Columbia health system that combined a Medicaid health plan, pediatric specialty hospital, home health agency and parent foundation to support people with disabilities.
Setareh Samii is an innovative public affairs leader with nearly 15 years of experience at the intersection of healthcare business and policy. She leverages her creativity and deep knowledge of the healthcare ecosystem to lead environment shaping and policy communications efforts that enable patient access and drive positive business outcomes for clients.
Before joining Reservoir, Setareh spent several years on the Policy & Research team at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), where she provided a broad range of policy expertise on key federal advocacy priorities for the biopharmaceutical industry, including intellectual property, industry economics, venture capital, and STEM education. She has also held positions at APCO Worldwide and the J. Craig Venter Institute.
Setareh holds a J.D. from the George Washington University, where she also completed a B.A. in International Affairs with a focus on Global Public Health.
Courtney Tyne has more than 15 years of experience in the field of health policy and public affairs, focused on market readiness, cost of care issues, and health care access communications. She has experience developing and leading programs focused on identifying strategies that support high-value, patient-centric access to care strategies, and she works to translate that knowledge into policy-oriented activations and communications for a variety of audiences. Courtney has planned and executed a variety of value, access and policy-related projects, from corporate narratives to product-specific messaging, to stakeholder awareness and education, to executive thought leadership and white papers and issues briefs, all to elucidate solutions-oriented access strategies.
Courtney came to Reservoir from Real Chemistry, where she led the Pricing and Public Affairs team in DC. She previously worked with the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), managing the development of its value of cancer care initiative.
She earned her M.P.H. with a specialization in health care policy from the University of Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health and has co-authored publications with experts in the field of oncology and policy, including a seminal publication on assessing value in oncology. As part of her post-graduate work in public health policy, Courtney served as a graduate intern for the House of Representatives Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health researching issues related to healthcare provision, insurance, and federal policy.
Allison DeBattista brings 15 years of experience in coalition building, advocacy, and strategic communications to the team, particularly within the healthcare sector. Her strategic approach to recruiting stakeholders to advocate for healthcare policy reforms has significantly impacted state and federal policy outcomes on behalf of clients. She has a proven track record of leading successful campaigns, managing key client relationships, and driving legislative and policy changes.
Before relocating to Washington, D.C., Allison was a director at Moore in New Orleans, where she led significant public relations and advocacy projects across the Southeast. She played a key role in organizing one of Louisiana’s largest healthcare coalitions, skillfully navigating complex issues through strategic grassroots and grasstops engagement and effective media relations.
Earlier in her career, Allison was the Executive Director of Epilepsy Alliance Louisiana, where she co-founded and launched Epilepsy Alliance America. Her leadership extended to developing a physician advisory board and serving as the organization’s spokesperson, underscoring her commitment to patient advocacy and public health. Allison has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Mississippi and continues to participate in extensive volunteer work, including board memberships with various health organizations.
Elisabeth M. Oehrlein, Ph.D., MS, is a mixed methods researcher who leads qualitative and quantitative primary data collection studies to produce actionable patient and caregiver insights across the medical product lifecycle. Her expertise includes patient-centered evidence generation, clinical outcome assessment (COA) strategy and development, and patient-centered evidence planning. She partners with life sciences companies and patient organizations to identify patient-centered evidence needs, prioritize research investments, and develop evidence that reflects patients’ lived experience, unmet needs, burden of disease, and desired outcomes to inform research, development, regulatory, access, and post-launch decision-making.
Dr. Oehrlein founded AppliedPX, a patient-centered research and strategy consulting firm that was acquired by Reservoir in 2026. She currently serves as Principal Scientist at AppliedPX and Executive Vice President and Head of Patient Engagement at Reservoir. Prior to founding AppliedPX, she served on the National Health Council senior leadership team, where she directed research and educational initiatives focused on patient engagement, value assessment, and real-world evidence. She has spoken widely on patient-centered research, including invited presentations at the National Academy of Sciences and briefings to the Rare Disease Congressional Caucus. She has published extensively in medical, economic, and health policy journals and serves as an Associate Editor of Value in Health.
Elisabeth holds a BA from Franklin & Marshall College, an MS in Epidemiology from the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Department of Epidemiology and Human Genetics, and a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Health Services Research from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.
Ashley Flint is a policy expert and strategist with nearly 15 years of experience advising life sciences companies on how to navigate a rapidly evolving policy environment to achieve business objectives. She leverages her deep expertise on federal and state policy issues, with a focus on Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) implementation, drug pricing, Medicare Part D, and the 340B program, to develop creative policy solutions and advocacy strategies for clients.
Before joining Reservoir, Ashley was a Principal at Avalere Health, working with several life sciences and health plan clients on drug pricing policy issues. Previously, Ashley served as Director of U.S. Policy & Analytics at AbbVie, where she led a team responsible for analyzing proposed federal and state policies related to above-brand market access issues and developing policy positions and strategies to advance business priorities. Earlier in her career, she was a Senior Director for Policy & Research at PhRMA, where she served as the Part D policy lead.
Ashley holds a MPP in health policy from the George Washington University and a BA in Political Science and Psychology from Emory University.
Bryan Dumont is a leader in the field of reputation management and corporate branding. Bryan has helped the world’s leading companies apply research and measurement tools to develop and execute multi-stakeholder campaigns, initiatives, and programs. He has pioneered methodologies to enhance the insights & analytics used by corporate affairs executives. He is a frequent speaker on the latest trends in corporate communications, strategic analytics, and how reputation and corporate brands provide measurable impact on tangible business outcomes
Bryan previously directed enterprise-wide reputation strategy and insights for Exelon Corporation, the largest publicly traded utility and power generator. Bryan came to Exelon in a newly-created research and analytics function to inform enterprise-wide decisions with insights, marketplace intelligence, and data-driven evidence. In this position, he developed one of the most robust insights & analytics functions of any Fortune 100 company. Before joining Exelon in 2017, he was a partner at the Brunswick Group in its London office where he helped clients convert research insights and strategy into corporate campaigns and programs.
He led the corporate campaigns to offer in London, serving as a “bridge” across multiple disciplines and specialisms across the firm to develop methodologies and approaches on how to create multi-stakeholder campaigns for companies.
Before moving to London, Bryan spent 16 years with APCO Worldwide where he was President for APCO Insight, based in Washington, DC, and later Brussels. Bryan was the driving force in building the firm’s research division into a global opinion research and strategy consultancy. He is the main architect of APCO Insight’s industry-leading reputation and brand research methodologies. He previously served as a Congressional staff person, management consultant at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and research director at the Roper Center.
Kristen McCaughan is an Emmy award-winning communications executive with 20+ years of experience. She has provided strategic counsel to Fortune 500 companies in nearly every industry as well as major trade associations, universities, law firms, and non-profit organizations. In addition, she has worked with a range of media on behalf of clients including NBC Nightly News, CNN, FOX, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Los Angeles Times, NPR, Bloomberg, Reuters, the AP, and numerous local newspapers and television newscasts.
Before coming to Reservoir, Kristen was a senior vice president at McGinn and Company, a leading strategic communications firm. There she advised clients on communications strategy, led high-profile communications campaigns, elevated the thought leadership of CEOs and executives, managed crisis communications, and served as a corporate spokesperson.
Kristen previously ran marketing and communications for the National Health Service Corps, a $300 million national healthcare program, at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In that role, she worked with top government leadership and oversaw strategy, budget, and resources for a 24-person communications team. Additionally, Kristen brings a deep perspective from inside the media having worked as a producer at CNN covering stories that included presidential campaigns and the events of September 11. Her work at CNN garnered her national Emmy recognition, among other awards.
Joe Vandigo, MBA, Ph.D., is a health services researcher who specializes in implementing mixed-method approaches to drive strategic decision-making. His expertise is in developing and operationalizing regulatory-grade qualitative and quantitative studies to document patient experiences, constructing and applying patient-centered methodologies, and strategically integrating the patient perspective into public and private healthcare decisions. He works closely alongside patient organizations, trade associations, and life sciences companies to document existing patient experience data, determine gaps in publicly available data, and implement innovative approaches, such as Patient Experience Dossiers, to address those gaps. His research interests include incorporating the patient perspective into asset assessment/due diligence and quantifying the time patients spend navigating access barriers, such as prior authorization.
In 2023, Joe joined AppliedPX, a patient-centered research and strategy consulting firm that was acquired by Reservoir in 2026. He is currently serving as the Vice President, Market Access & Value Strategy at AppliedPX and a Senior Vice President at Reservoir. Prior to joining AppliedPX, Joe was a member of the Novartis Market Access Innovation team, conducted research to support policy related to value assessment, hospital pricing, and innovative contracting and financing as a member of the Value-Driven Healthcare Unit at PhRMA, and built patient-centered research infrastructure at the University of Maryland PATIENTS Program.
Joe earned a BS in Finance from Southeastern Louisiana University, an MBA from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Health Services Research from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.
Casey is an experienced public affairs and strategic communications leader with 20 years of experience in policy, corporate and philanthropy communications. She has advised CEOs and senior leaders across business and politics, built and led multinational teams and developed thought leadership agendas that strengthen the reputation of global brands.
She previously led external affairs teams that spotlighted technology, philanthropy and policy priorities at JPMorgan Chase, Mastercard and McKinsey & Co.
Casey began her career in Washington, D.C. working for the Justice Department, presidential campaigns and APCO Worldwide, which shaped her approach to communications by raising awareness through an integrated, content driven, audience-first approach.
She holds an M.A. in international economics from Johns Hopkins University (SAIS) and a B.A. from Loyola University Chicago and is on the board of The Azadi Project, a non-profit organization supporting individuals in conflict-affected regions in Africa, the Middle east and South Asia.
Lauren Cohen is an integrated communications strategist with a proven track record of successfully developing and implementing public affairs and PR campaigns for Fortune 500 companies, startups, trade associations, and nonprofits. For more than a decade, she has directed data-driven communications and marketing programs, leveraging earned, paid, shared, and owned media tactics to drive business momentum and increase brand awareness.
Prior to joining Reservoir, Lauren led the Life Sciences & Health practice at Mission North, supporting both established and early-stage biotech and biopharma clients in reaching key b2b audiences through integrated communications approaches. While at Mission North, she advised c-suite clients as they went public, raised major funding rounds, hit key partner and clinical milestones, and managed through turbulent economic markets and other critical business issues.
Lauren previously served as a director in APCO’s Public Affairs practice, leading the firm’s work with some of its largest global clients across the health and technology sectors, as well as major industry coalitions. Before APCO, she led communications at the Natural Products Association, the trade association representing vitamins and dietary supplements.
Lauren holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Maryland.
Marilyn leads our creative and digital client business, helping deliver top-quality creative content and brand storytelling for our clients. Marilyn brings more than two decades of experience in strategic communications, brand advocacy, and reputation management, producing highly effective and innovative campaigns for corporate, nonprofit, association, and government clients.
Marilyn’s expertise includes comprehensive campaign strategy and planning, message and story architecture, branding, digital analytics, copywriting, paid advertising, and executive media training, and international communications platforms. She directs integrated content development including website development, social media, branding, video production, animation, print collateral, paid advertising including television, digital/online, radio, transit, and print campaigns, sponsored/earned media, data visualization, and music composition.
Prior to working with Reservoir, Marilyn served as chief creative officer and executive director of APCO Worldwide, where she led the global digital and creative practice. Marilyn has extensive experience directing political candidate and issue advocacy campaigns, as well as live television and cable news production. Marilyn has a master’s degree in communications from the University of Washington, and bachelor of arts degrees in political science, journalism, and English from the University of Oregon.
Chrystine Zacherau is a passionate public health leader whose unique blend of clinical nursing, opinion research, and strategic planning drives real change in healthcare. With a career built on active listening and evidence-based insights, she empowers communities by elevating underrepresented voices and advocating for patient-centered care.
As a trusted advisor to global health companies, health systems, and nonprofit organizations, Chrystine has a proven track record of turning complex data into actionable strategies and content that improve health outcomes. A founding member of APCO Insight, she established a robust health-focused research capability that continues to inform industry best practices.
Beyond her professional achievements, Chrystine remains deeply committed to service. She volunteers as a nurse in Guatemala with Mayanza—a group dedicated to enhancing the health of school-aged children and their mothers—and actively supports her local public health department by staffing vaccine clinics.
Chrystine’s academic background is as diverse as her experience: she holds a B.A. in Political Science from Marist College, a B.S. in Nursing from George Mason University, an M.A. in Survey Research Methodology from the University of Connecticut, and a Public Health Certificate from Rutgers University. This multidisciplinary expertise uniquely positions her to drive innovative, sustainable improvements in public health and make a lasting impact on communities.
Mallory is a strategic communications professional who brings over 15 years of experience leading successful public affairs campaigns. She has worked with Fortune 500 companies, trade associations, not-for-profit organizations, and political candidates on messaging strategy, coalition management, crisis communications, and thought leadership programs. Mallory counsels clients on how to effectively frame the debate, drive and leverage media coverage, and influence policymakers.
Before joining Reservoir Communications Group, Mallory was a director at APCO Worldwide where she served as the deputy public affairs practice group leader. There she managed some of the agency’s largest accounts, led crisis response teams, and developed winning campaigns inside the Beltway and across the country.
Previously, Mallory was chief of staff at the New York State Democratic Party and worked on numerous political campaigns in the state. She also worked at a boutique political consulting firm in New York City and with a leading civil rights organization.
Mallory graduated magna cum laude from Barnard College at Columbia University with a B.A. in Political Science.
Kirsten Thistle has decades of experience in health care communications, public policy, advocacy campaigns, and alliance development. She brings deep expertise in vaccines, infectious diseases, and public health, leading stakeholder engagement, disease awareness, and access initiatives for leading health care organizations, nonprofits, and industry partners.
Prior to joining Reservoir Communications Group, Kirsten was co-founder and partner of Health Impact Strategies, a boutique communications agency focused on advancing public health and health equity. She also served as campaign director for Health is Primary, a national effort led by the American Academy of Family Physicians to raise awareness of the critical role of primary care in the U.S. health care system. For more than a decade, Kirsten led the U.S. Health Care practice at APCO Worldwide, advising clients across the health care, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and nonprofit sectors.
Laurie is a trusted public affairs and communications leader with 20 years of experience in policy and corporate communications. She is a senior advisor who applies an in-depth, holistic approach to assess the environment and evolving external and internal stakeholder expectations, devising predictive strategies to help guide informed decision making and a framework for the path forward.
Laurie provides communications advice and counsel to executives and teams on a broad range of issues, including reputation management, crisis and litigation, policy, diversity and inclusion, CSR and sustainability, advocacy, and governance. Laurie also works closely with clients on privacy and security related communications including cyber preparedness and breach simulation exercises, as well as post-incident communications on behalf of clients in industries including financial services, retail, technology, and health care.
Laurie previously served as Founder and President of Alton Place Group, a specialized D.C.-based communications firm, and as Deputy Managing Director of the Washington, D.C. office of APCO Worldwide, a global public affairs and strategic communications firm. Prior to joining APCO, she served as the principal administrator of the Committee on Consumer Policy at the OECD in Paris; as Special Advisor to the Commissioner at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), where she handled online privacy and consumer protection issues. She joined the FTC from the White House where she served as Staff Director for the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs.
Jenn brings experience leading and managing strategic health communications at the highest levels of government and for a wide array of Reservoir clients across the health sector.
Through a decade of communications work, Jenn has worked at the intersection of critical public policy conversations and legislation. She’s helped leaders respond to public health crises – including the opioid epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic – and tackle key reforms spanning health insurance and information technology. Specifically, Jenn led the communications and media efforts surrounding the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), the 21st Century Cures Act, the FDA Reauthorization Act, and the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, among others.
Most recently, Jenn was the Director of Public Affairs for the Office of the Surgeon General at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In that role, Jenn oversaw all communications and media for the “Nation’s Doctor.” Prior to that, she served as press secretary for the House Energy and Commerce Committee, leading all communications for both its health and oversight & investigations subcommittees.
Jenn has a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication and a B.S. in Political Science from St. Bonaventure University.
Preparing for Post-Midterm Congressional Oversight: Practical Steps Companies Can Take Now to Protect Corporate Reputation
With Democrats taking control of the House and Senate come January, party leaders have already signaled plans for expanded congressional oversight, and Democrats are expected to use every oversight tool at their disposal. Republicans may use the bully pulpit of social media and appearances in traditional media to counter Democrats’ investigations. This could create a far-reaching oversight environment that can leave companies caught in the middle as both parties make competing demands.
Companies should be prepared for the powerful investigative tools – from oversight letters and reports to subpoenas and high-profile hearings – that Congress can wield. Because these investigations often play out in public, companies under scrutiny can face significant reputational challenges and risks. Organizations that invest now in preparing for increased oversight activity will be best positioned to navigate potential reputational impact.
Our experience spans all sides of congressional investigations, including participating in committee preparation and planning; managing national media response around hearings and investigations; and supporting industries, trade associations and companies involved in every phase of oversight. We know the key steps companies facing congressional scrutiny can take now to respond effectively and protect corporate reputation when the stakes are highest.
The most effective responses to congressional oversight begin long before the committee letter arrives or an executive is called to testify. The companies that prepare in advance will be best positioned to manage the reputational impact that can accompany congressional scrutiny.
Reservoir Health is uniquely suited to help your organization manage the response to congressional investigations and navigate reputational challenges. Our multidisciplinary team brings decades of experience managing high-profile moments, with colleagues having served in key staff roles on congressional committees, in the media and at federal agencies and trade associations. We know how investigations unfold, what drives committee priorities and how the media shapes the story, and we pair that insight with deep policy expertise to help you anticipate tough questions, avoid missteps and respond with confidence. Backed by our proprietary PRISM research model, we can offer a clearer picture of how oversight affects your stakeholders and how to respond effectively.
Health Care AI’s Rules Are in Flux. The Burden of Proof Isn’t.
While Washington is weighing how to regulate health care AI, the companies bringing these new technologies to market face a tougher test: proving they work, deliver clinical value and cost savings, and can close a trust gap with patients, clinicians and health systems.
Two recent developments underscore that tension. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalized a rule that eliminates certain AI transparency requirements, while outgoing Senate HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidy unveiled a draft framework for how health care AI is paid for and regulated.
The midterm election results add another new variable. With Democrats taking control of Congress in January, health care AI is likely to face new questions and more oversight from Capitol Hill even as the administration weighs its options. But divided government rarely produces new laws quickly, so federal rules may stay unsettled for some time. Companies must earn trust now, with fewer federal standards to lean on and more scrutiny of how they do it.
Transparency Is Now a Market Differentiator
HHS’s new rule removes required disclosures on how certain AI decision-support tools in certified health IT systems, such as electronic health records, are developed, evaluated and used. What was a compliance requirement is now a competitive opening.
Hospitals, physicians, and several medical societies pushed to keep the disclosures, warning that without them, the work of vetting AI tools would fall on providers. Regulators countered that the disclosures hadn’t measurably improved patient care.
Both may be right. Health systems still need to know what they’re buying and the prior disclosures provided little clarity. The same is true across the market: payers want proof of value; employers want evidence before offering AI tools to their workforce; and consumers want to know how AI uses their data. Companies that provide each audience evidence it can act on will stand out.
What Health Care AI Will Have to Prove Next
Cassidy’s draft, the PATIENT AI Act, may never become law, but it raises three questions every health care AI company will face, whoever writes the rules.
1. Who is accountable when AI gets it wrong? The draft would clarify which agency oversees each type of AI tool, reaffirm existing federal limits on some state lawsuits against software-based medical devices, but leave the broader question of liability to further study. For consumer-facing tools that aren’t regulated as devices, the answer is even less settled. Companies that define their own accountability now will be better positioned when Washington does.
2. What evidence earns trust? As federal disclosure rules recede, accreditors and states are stepping in with standards of their own. The Joint Commission, the nation’s leading hospital accreditor, now offers voluntary certification for health systems that govern and monitor the AI they deploy. States are writing rules for consumer-facing AI, from chatbot disclosures to limits on AI in mental health care. Each sets expectations that companies will have to meet.
3. How will reimbursement for AI evolve? The draft would set up a process for Medicare to decide whether and how to pay for AI services, including a pilot to test paying for AI that performs certain clinical tasks on its own. The business question is clear: what evidence of benefit, safety and value will justify reimbursement?
What Companies Should Do Now
Whether you’re a technology platform, consumer health company, clinical workflow vendor or diagnostics developer, three priorities stand out:
The Bottom Line
The rules for health care AI are still being written, and a divided Washington may pull them in different directions. The market’s questions are more settled: Does it work? Where does it fit? Can it be trusted? Companies with credible answers will be ready for whatever comes next.
At Reservoir Health, we help companies bringing AI into health care understand the policy forces shaping their markets, identify stakeholder concerns and develop positioning and communications that explain their value and earn trust.
Jenny Bryant Joins Reservoir Health As Health Policy Chair
Former PhRMA policy leader brings deep experience supporting industries amid market change.
Reservoir also adds several new colleagues to expand its advocacy, corporate communications and market enablement offers.
Washington, D.C. – Nov. 2, 2026 – Reservoir Health, a Washington, D.C.-based health care consultancy, today announced that Jenny Bryant has joined the firm as Health Policy Chair. Bryant, who most recently served as Executive Vice President of Policy and Research at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), brings decades of experience helping health care organizations understand, prepare for and respond to major policy transitions across markets.
At Reservoir Health, she will advise clients on legislative and regulatory developments, shape policy strategy and help organizations anticipate how reforms will affect patients’ access to care and medical innovation.
“Jenny’s deep policy expertise brings valuable perspective to companies navigating an evolving health policy environment,” said Robert Schooling, President of Reservoir Health. “As our new Health Policy Chair, she will help Reservoir Health’s clients anticipate change, shape policy and advance patient access.”
Bryant’s career spans nearly every corner of the U.S. health care system, giving her a cross-sector view and policy expertise across the commercial, Medicare and Medicaid markets. During nearly two decades at PhRMA, Bryant supported and led the association’s policy development on health care costs and spending, innovation, health care delivery and payment, while overseeing economic and policy research on how medicines are used and valued. Her tenure coincided with some of the most consequential reforms the biopharmaceutical industry has faced, including implementation of Medicare Part D, the Affordable Care Act, and the Medicare drug price negotiation provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act.
Before joining PhRMA, Bryant was a Vice President at The Lewin Group, a national health care consulting firm, where she advised clients on health policy and market issues. Earlier in her career, she held positions at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center and the State of New York.
Bryant earned her bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Harvard College and her MBA from Harvard Business School.
Expanding Reservoir Health's Reach & Expertise
In addition to Bryant, several new colleagues have joined Reservoir Health to expand the firm’s advocacy, corporate communications and market enablement offers.
Tejasvi Hariharan, associate: Tejasvi brings experience in public health, research and strategic advocacy, including recently serving in a health policy and regulatory affairs role at Amrita Technologies. She also supported preventive care access initiatives at Healthwatch Camden in London and studied post-pandemic policy responses in Kingston, Jamaica. She holds a B.A. in Public Health from American University.
Leila Pagel, associate: Leila brings a background in immunobiology, public health and health equity. As a communications and public policy intern at the National Hispanic Health Foundation, she supported advocacy and awareness initiatives addressing health disparities and access to care. She graduated summa cum laude from Georgetown University with a B.S. in Biology and Justice & Peace Studies.
Gabrielle Draper, senior associate: Gabrielle brings experience in government relations and nonprofit management. At Woodberry Associates, she mobilized patient and provider advocates on Capitol Hill to expand access to preventive care. She also interned in the U.S. Senate and at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona, where she analyzed mental health care initiatives. She graduated summa cum laude from Howard University with B.S. degrees in Psychology and Political Science and is pursuing a Master of Public Health at the George Washington University.
Lacey Teal, manager: Lacey brings experience leading integrated communications and stakeholder engagement programs. She previously was a manager at Penn Quarter Partners where she advised executives, built coalitions and translated complex health and policy issues into compelling narratives. She also managed campaigns at Spectrum Science, Woodberry Associates and Ketchum. She holds a B.S. in Health Promotion and a Master of Public Health from the University of Lynchburg.
Casey Cappelletti, manager: Casey brings more than a decade of experience in health policy, advocacy and engagement. She previously led SUNY’s Washington Internship Program, connecting students with professional opportunities and career development support. Before that, she spent nearly 10 years at the Academy for Radiology & Biomedical Imaging Research, supporting government affairs, patient engagement and coalition advocacy. She holds a Master of Public Health from the George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Brockport.
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About Reservoir Health
Reservoir Health is a leading integrated health care consultancy that helps innovators anticipate and shape the environments—policy, communications, and market—that determine which innovations reach patients. Based in Washington, D.C., the firm brings decades of experience across the health system, government, media, and patient advocacy to deliver integrated, data-driven solutions to health care’s most complex challenges.
