Recognized health care policy thought leader with over two decades of experience shaping U.S. health policy.
Extensive experience in FDA policy having served in the senior leadership role of Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Legislation, and International Affairs at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and as an Associate Director at The White House Domestic Policy Council.
Brings more than a decade of Capitol Hill experience having served as the Health Policy Director and Senior Advisor to Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) and working at the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee on health policy issues spanning the HELP Committee, and the Senate Finance Committee, to provide strategic advice to and advocacy on behalf of clients.
Recognized by Washingtonian, 500 Most Influential People Shaping Policy in 2025, as 'Top Lobbyist, Hired Gun ' by The Hill in 2024, and as a 'Top Lobbyist' by the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics in 2022 and 2023, for her exceptional advocacy and impact.

Anna brings over two decades of experience shaping U.S. health policy, with extensive knowledge in FDA policy and legislative advocacy. Shehas shaped U.S. health policy at the highest levels of government and has held senior leadership roles, including deputy commissioner for policy, legislation, and international affairs at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and associate director at The White House Domestic Policy Council. Anna brings extensive Capitol Hill experience; she served as health policy director and senior advisor to Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) and worked at the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.

Anna is recognized for her strategic foresight and ability to build bipartisan coalitions, advancing reforms that cross political divides. Her hands-on approach and seasoned know-how position her clients to achieve tangible results in a complex policy environment. She is a trusted advisor known for her leadership in crafting policy and navigating the policymaking process to achieve results on a range of health care, life science, and public health issues.

Anna’s leadership and influence in health policy have been recognized nationally. She was named one of Washingtonian’s 500 Most Influential People Shaping Policy (2025), listed among The Hill’s Top Lobbyists, Hired Guns (2024), and honored by the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics as a Top Lobbyist (2022-2023).

Anna holds a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, magna cum laude, 2003.

Representative Work

Led high-profile and significant policy, regulatory initiatives and engagements related to a range of policy matters, including drug competition, drug compounding, agricultural biotechnology, food policy, medical countermeasures and tobacco policy, with notable interagency collaborations with the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Led FDA’s legislative strategy for significant public health legislation, including the FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, the Animal Drug and Animal Generic Drug User Fee Amendments of 2018 and Over-the-Counter Drug Monograph reform.
Spearheaded the bipartisan negotiation and enactment of the most significant security enhancements to the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain in 25 years through the Drug Quality and Security Act.
Successfully negotiated the introduction and enactment of the bipartisan Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2013 (PAHPRA).
Secured multiple provisions in the 2012 FDA user fee reauthorization and 21st Century Cures Act to advance medical product innovation on behalf of patients and strengthen public health.

List may include matters worked on prior to joining Akin.

Education
B.A., University of Pennsylvania, Magna Cum Laude, 2003

Recognitions

Washingtonian, 500 Most Influential People Shaping Policy, 2025.
The Hill, Top Lobbyists, Hired Guns, 2024.
National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics, Top Lobbyists, 2022-2023.

Affiliations and Public Service

Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Legislation and International Affairs, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2017-2021).
Health Policy Director and Senior Advisor (along with other roles) to Sen. Richard Burr, Senate HELP Committee, U.S. Senate (2009-2017).
Associate Director, Domestic Policy Council, The White House (2007-2009).
Legislative Aide (along with other roles), Office of Sen. Rick Santorum, U.S. Senate (2003-2006).

Speeches and Publications

Moderated Fireside Chat with U.S. Congressman Jake Auchincloss (D-MA): “The Evolving Role of Public Health Policy in Food and Drug Law,” 2025 FDLI Annual Conference, Washington, D.C., May 2025.
Panelist, NC Life Sciences Organization: "Regulatory Landscape: Changes at the FDA and Impacts on Devices and Drugs,” Durham, NC, May 2025.
Moderated Panel "Policy Outlook: Navigating a New Congress and Executive Branch" at BIO CEO & Investor Conference, New York City, Feb 2025.
Panelist, ACLA's 2025 Annual Meeting titled "Off the Record: Discussion and Analysis of the New Trump Administration's Actions in the First 100 Days", Washington, D.C., Feb 2025.
Panelist, Virtual FDLI Panel as part of Essentials of the FDA Landscape for Patient Organizations Conference: "What to Expect with the New Presidential Administration: How Interactions with FDA May Change", March 2025.
"FDA Drug Approval Guidance: What You Need to Know," quoted in Law360, December 2024
Co-author, “President-elect Trump Makes More HHS Personnel Moves: Dr. Marty Makary Tapped to Lead FDA,” Akin Eye on FDA Blog, November 2024.
Panelist, BIO's IP Counsels Committee Conference 2024 “Biosimilars: Patents, Regulations, Litigation” Washington, D.C., November 2024.
Panelist, America's Physician Groups Fall Conference 2024 “After the Supreme Court’s Chevron Decision: What’s Next for Federal Health Care Legislation and Regulation?” Washington, D.C., November 2024.
Panelist, NC Life Sciences Organization “Diagnostic Testing: Will FDA’s Final Rule be the Final Word”, Durham, NC, May 2024.
Moderator, ACI 14th Summit on Biosimilars & Biologics “The Inflation Reduction Act: Understanding the Impact on Biologic Innovation and the Biosimilar Marketplace” panel, Boston, MA, June 2023.
“User fee hiring: CBER on track while CDER lags,” quoted in Regulatory Focus, April 2023.
Speaker, NC Biosciences Organization, “CEO Roundtable: Preparing for Price Setting under the Inflation Reduction Act”, Durham, NC, February 2023.
“Key Senate health committee could be led by Paul, Sanders in 2023,” quoted in National Journal, August 2022.
Speaker, American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy Annual Meeting “Overview of the Accelerated Approval Pathway: Definitions, Legislative History, and Purpose”, Washington, D.C., May 2022.
Speaker, Alliance for Health Policy “Health Policy Roundup: Background on FDA User Fee Programs”, Washington, D.C., February 2022.
“F.D.A. Still Lacks a Permanent Commissioner,” quoted in The New York Times, June 2021.