Global Health Institute

On March 11, 2025, the Conversations in Global Health: Global to Local class welcomed Katie Keith (L’12) to discuss her life and career. From her time as the director of the Health Policy and Law Initiative at the Georgetown University O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law to her role as the deputy director of the Gender Policy Council in the Biden administration, Keith has been at the forefront of policymaking in gender-affirming care. We opened our discussion by reflecting on the path Keith took to where she is today.

One of the key topics of our discussion was gender-affirming care. Keith emphasized its importance within health care rights, noting that this care should be treated as a basic human right. We touched on the current political climate and how it is becoming increasingly difficult to fight for basic human rights for marginalized communities. Between the court cases happening, state-level restrictions, and federal challenges, it has been harder for people to access the care they need and deserve, which has created a tense legal environment. Keith’s perspective on this is both personal and professional, as she sees the protection of gender-affirming care as a matter of equity and human rights, and she underscored that legal battles are likely to shape health care access for years to come.

Following this, we discussed the relationship between the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and gender-affirming care. While the ACA has provided critical protections for individuals seeking gender-affirming treatments, Keith acknowledged the challenges in ensuring these protections remain intact. All ACA provisions are vulnerable to political shifts. Keith’s insights highlighted how in a highly polarized political climate, it can be difficult, and at times, near impossible, to make forward progress for historically excluded communities. This speaks to the broader struggle in United States health care to implement and maintain laws that protect citizens with changing political parties.

Reflecting on Keith’s journey, I am reminded that creating change in health care policy is not about a formal education but rather an understanding of law, policy, and human rights and using that understanding to push for a more equitable system. Keith’s perspective is a valuable reminder that policy work is just as vital as courtroom advocacy in shaping the future of public health.

Jenna Mertes (C’26) is an undergraduate student at Georgetown University majoring mathematics. She is a student in the Conversations in Health: Global to Local class.