Susan S Walden

Susan Walden serves as the head of the JRMI Government Affairs Practice Group after representing corporations and trade associations before federal, state, and local governments for over 20 years. She provides the JRMI team with in-depth knowledge of Congress and the Executive Branch and proven achievement in issues management, grassroots activities, coalition building, and the development and implementation of effective strategies to impact government programs and policies. Her background includes a broad range of experience in the health care industry, in the areas of prescription and consumer pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices and consumer health care products. Areas of expertise include the Medicare and Medicaid programs, Health Care Financing Administration reimbursement, Federal Food and Drug Administration, and Veterans Affairs and Defense Department health care procurement. In 1998, Ms. Walden formed a consulting firm, Walden Associates, which provides Washington representation for corporations and trade associations in government affairs, policy analysis, health care strategies, and business development. She was formerly Director of Federal Government Relations for Johnson & Johnson and represented the corporation in Washington from 1987 to 1998 on numerous legislative, regulatory, and corporate matters. She advised J&J senior management and the Office of the Chairman on federal government health care policies and strategies. Her corporate-wide responsibilities extended to organizing and directing communications and government affairs strategies for many J&J operating companies, including Ortho-McNeil, Janssen, Ortho Biotech, J&J Health Care Systems, J&J Medical, Ethicon-Endosurgery, and McNeil Consumer Products. She was a recipient of the J&J Achievement Award for outstanding effort in federal legislative initiatives. Ms. Walden also served as Assistant General Counsel and Director of State Government Relations for the Nonprescription Drug Manufacturers Association (NDMA) in Washington, where she represented 85 pharmaceutical company members on health care issues affecting the nonprescription drug industry. She successfully managed industry health care government affairs at the federal, state, and local government levels for ten years and frequently testified before state legislatures and regulatory bodies. Education/ Achievements: Member of the Bar: District of Columbia and State of Virginia American University Washington College of Law College of William and Mary; the University of Georgia Member, Strathmore's Who's Who (2000-2001 registry)