Kristi Martin’s Inspirational Journey in Policy

Kristi Martin’s career is a model for how curiosity and a drive to make improvements in the health system can turn into a lifelong mission in policy. During her conversation with Georgetown University students in the Conversations in Health: Global to Local class, Martin spoke on her path starting in academic research to the forefront of health reform. This shows how a passion for problem-solving paired with a willingness to take risks can lead to a fulfilling career.

Martin began her professional journey realizing that academic research may not be the right long-term fit for her. However, with her background in qualitative analysis, she transitioned into health care policy work, discovering that the investigative skills she used in research translated into understanding difficult policy challenges. Her early policy analysis focused on state health insurance, where she began to see how individual stories connect to bigger systemic issues. 

A significant turning point in her career came during the Obama administration, when national conversations around health and insurance reform intensified. This environment gave her new opportunities to address emerging issues. Martin began to work closely with Karen Schwartz at the American Cancer Society and the Kaiser Family Foundation, using the data from call centers to combine with unique patients’ lived experiences. This merging of quantitative insights with the personal narratives became the foundation of her policy approach, rooted in the belief that effective reform must be humanized.

After helping implement the Affordable Care Act at the Department of Health and Human Services, Martin transitioned to the Office of Health Reforms, where she became known as an individual who had the ability to create new programs from the ground up. Her organizational mindset and attention to detail made her well-suited to these roles, as she saw policy as a puzzle to be assembled through coordination and persistence. Martin described herself as a “right-hand person” who enjoyed keeping complicated initiatives on track and putting out fires before they started.

Martin then began serving as chief of staff at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, leading special projects such as expanding access to over-the-counter COVID-19 tests. She described the collaboration and leadership needed to keep all parts of a program functioning smoothly. When reflecting on the Inflation Reduction Act’s health care provisions, Martin expressed pride in seeing the results of long-debated reforms, even while acknowledging the compromises that must be made in policymaking.

Martin’s story is a reminder that careers in health policy rarely follow a straight line. They grow through curiosity, flexibility, and the courage to say yes to opportunities that feel right with one’s values. Her journey shows that behind every significant policy are individuals whose determination turns ideas into implementation.

Sarah Bagheri (H’27) is an undergraduate student majoring in pre-medicine and healthcare management at Georgetown University.