Global Health Institute

Imagine a patient with a life-threatening condition who cannot afford the necessary prescription. Without access to treatment, their situation becomes a matter of life or death. Thanks to the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation program, which allows Medicare to negotiate directly with drug companies to make life-saving medications more affordable for millions of Americans, this is beginning to change.

The program was pioneered by Meena Seshamani, M.D., who joined our Conversations in Health: Global to Local class on February 25, 2025, to discuss the future of the U.S. health system and share her broader perspective on health care and leadership.

As an undergraduate student at Brown University, Dr. Seshamani was struck by how the U.S. health policies were shaped by historical events unrelated to health care. Despite her fascination with policy, Dr. Seshamani found patient interactions to be the most rewarding. This passion led her to pursue a medical degree and specialize in otolaryngology. She paused her residency to joined the Obama administration as a senior executive service member, overseeing the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Later, she returned to her medical career to complete her surgical training.

In our discussion, Dr. Seshamani stressed that strong partnerships with local organizations are essential to driving health care reform. She believes that health care is deeply personal and that building trust between patients, physicians, and the health care system is essential. This trust, she explained, requires collaboration with communities directly connected to the populations they serve. Her words reminded the class that everything we do in health care is for people and they must always be at the core of our decisions.

Dr. Seshamani’s insights emphasized the importance of patient-centered health care reform. Her journey from studying health economics to becoming a physician and senior health policy leader illustrates the value of adaptability and perseverance. As a final piece of advice to future Hoya health practitioners, she encouraged us to navigate life following our heart’s desires.

Morgan Kim (C’27) is an undergraduate student at Georgetown University majoring biology of global health. She is a student in the Conversations in Health: Global to Local class.

On February 25, Meena Seshamani, M.D., Ph.D., visited Georgetown’s campus to speak with students in Conversations in Health: Global to Local class. I was fortunate to be among those who heard her insights on a career in health care, spanning direct patient care to leadership in the public and private sectors, and the ways the United States can improve its health care for all.

Dr. Seshamani shared that her passion for biology led her to medicine, but an undergraduate Comparative Health Systems class sparked her interest in broader systemic forces. She wove her studies in both health economics and otolaryngology into her formal career. It was clear that she has followed both of her interests in medicine and economics with dedication, immersing herself deeply in both clinical care and policy.

While Dr. Seshamani covered a wide range of topics, I was particularly struck by her emphasis on patient-centered care and the value of diverse perspectives in shaping health care. She highlighted Medicare initiatives under her leadership that expanded provider reimbursement for screening patients’ social service needs, such as food insecurity and transportation access. This approach recognizes that health extends beyond clinical settings, incorporating social determinants to improve outcomes. Her commitment to integrating non-health actors into the system aligns with a preventative, holistic approach to care.

Another key theme of the conversation was the importance of diverse voices in health care discussions. Dr. Seshamani stressed that patients, providers, and organizations across the country have unique needs that may not always be reflected or represented in Washington, DC.  

She advocated for listening to all perspectives, even those on opposing sides of contentious issues like drug pricing. I was particularly impressed by how she practices this principle despite holding high-level positions that might seem removed from everyday patient experiences.

In discussing policy decisions, she shared personal anecdotes that tied her work in government and MedStar Health to real patient stories. Her ability to bridge policy with lived experience reinforced the idea that effective health care leadership requires both technical expertise and the deep empathy that she showed.

Throughout the session, Dr. Seshamani offered a hopeful perspective on dedication and lifelong learning. She acknowledged that health care is both deeply personal and complex, making it challenging to find solutions that serve everyone. Still, she emphasized that the passion and commitment she felt in university have remained at the core of her work and should remain at the core of ours going forward, too.

While the future of public health programs like Medicare may be uncertain, her career trajectory, marked by persistence, flexibility, and service, was a reassuring reminder that impact in the health field comes in many forms. Hearing Dr. Seshamani speak so honestly about her journey was both a privilege and an inspiration. She reinforced the idea that career paths in health care are rarely linear, but each experience can shape our ability to drive meaningful change.

Fritze Mayer (H’26) is an undergraduate student at Georgetown University majoring global health. She is a student in the Conversations in Health: Global to Local class.