Leah is Associate Commissioner for External Affairs (OEA) within the Office of the Commissioner at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In this role, she oversees agency-wide communications activities regarding the FDA’s public health and regulatory activities. This includes the development, coordination and leadership of all FDA communications as well as outreach efforts to the news media, health professionals, patient advocates, consumer groups and the general public. OEA also serves as the focal point for speechwriting, creative and editorial services, and best practices for digital and web technology and social media.

Leah previously worked as Senior Advisor for External Affairs at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which included overseeing communications and engagement around the Inflation Reduction Act. Before joining CMS, Leah served as Communications Director for the Alliance of Community Health Plans, leading public policy communications for the nonprofit trade association. Prior to her advocacy work, she worked on Capitol Hill holding senior communications positions in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. 

From 2014-2017 she served in several roles of increasing responsibility in HHS’s Office of the Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs: Communications Director for Public Health; Senior Communications Director for Public Health; and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary. 

She received her bachelor’s in journalism from the University of Wisconsin.

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