Valarie Molaison

About Valarie Molaison

Summary:Energetic health policy professional who draws upon real world experience in Congress, government relations, health care provision, higher education, and public policy journalism to analyze and advance policy initiatives. Strong manager and motivator, with equal capacities to lead and follow, and well-developed sense of loyalty to team and mission. Excellent follow-through and high level of personal responsibility and ethics. Navigates challenging situations with creativity and humor. Thrives on learning and serving in a fast-paced environment.Core Competencies:• Extensive knowledge of legislative processes from both Congressional staffer and lobbyist perspectives• Up-to-date on trends, stakeholder positions, and political climate affecting health policy ecosystem• Health psychologist with appreciation of patient, care provider and health system perspectives• Experienced researcher, leveraging data analysis and science to drive practical policy solutions• Enthusiastic and persuasive public speaker, seamlessly tailoring messages to audience and setting formality• Skilled at collecting, organizing, interpreting and presenting information and its policy implications• Highly organized and detail-oriented, able to manage projects efficiently, delegate tasks, and track progress• Strong technical writer with background in journalism, speech-writing, scientific publishing, writing manuals

Experience

1. Director, Government Affairs

   Neurocrine Biosciences

   Apr 2021 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   Lead Democratic lobbying efforts and manage relationships and policy discussions with Congress, Executive branch, and trade associations (e.g, BIO, Biocom, CLS) to influence policy outcomes impacting patient access to treatment and science innovation in psychiatry, neurology and endocrinology. Report to VP of Government Affairs.• Co-led coalition efforts to protect innovation for patients with psychiatric/ neurological conditions as the Medicare Part D benefit redesign was negotiated; obtained a gradual ramp-up of costs for small neuroscience companies.• Fought for patients with severe mental illness to have access to periodic in-person care in the face of wholesale adoption of telehealth after the pandemic.• Activated a corporate PAC for a young, apolitical company.• Contributed to successful launch of first in class pediatric/adult rare disease treatment.• Coached an inexperienced patient group through an annual fly-in to grow advocacy skills with Congress and the Administration.• Managed summer interns and elevated the program.

Education

• University of Maryland Baltimore County

  PhD, Applied Developmental Psychology

• Michigan State University

  Residency and post-doc, Pediatric Psychology

• University of Maryland Baltimore County

  Master’s Degree, Community Clinical Psychology

• Louisiana State University

  Bachelor’s Degree, Psychology, Broadcast Journalism minor

Skills

• Grants
• Psychotherapy
• Healthcare
• Service Providers
• End-of-Life Care
• Program Management
• Continuing Education
• Community Outreach
• Legislative Relations
• Public Policy
• Conflict Resolution
• Policy Analysis
• Speech Writing
• Patient Advocacy
• Grief Counseling
• Strategic Planning
• Public Speaking
• Contract Management
• Pediatric Psychology
• Chronic Illness
• Health Insurance
• Research
• Legislation
• Early Childhood Development
• Adolescents
• Coalitions
• Fundraising
• Public Relations
• Policy
• Strategic Communications
• Science Policy
• Qualitative Research
• Non-Profits
• Teaching
• Leadership
• Grant Writing
• Public Affairs
• Program Development
• Psychology
• Social Services