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Dr. Mandy Cohen
Former CDC Director, Manatt Health National Advisor
- Widely respected health leader with deep experience across federal and state government, healthcare delivery, and crisis response
- Equips organizations to lead through change with strategic insight on AI, Medicaid, Medicare, value-based care, and domestic and global public health
- Delivers energizing talks on building trust, navigating polarized environments, and preparing for the next era of healthcare, public health, and innovation
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Dr. Mandy Cohen is one of the nation’s leading health experts, with a distinguished career spanning top roles in both federal and state government. As the most recent Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), she led the agency through critical public health responses to threats like avian flu, mpox, Marburg, and ongoing COVID-19 challenges. Under her leadership, the CDC underwent transformative changes in structure, strategy, and communication—modernizing data systems, expanding genomic and wastewater surveillance, and strengthening relationships across sectors.
Now serving as National Advisor at Manatt Health, Dr. Cohen guides clients across healthcare, government, and the private sector on care delivery innovation, AI integration, Medicaid transformation, and public health strategy. Dr. Cohen offers audiences a rare combination of policy insight, crisis-tested leadership, and forward-looking expertise on emerging healthcare technologies. She equips leaders with the tools to navigate change and drive impact across the evolving health landscape.
Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Dr. Cohen also served as Secretary of Health and Human Services for North Carolina, where she earned national recognition for her transparent, trust-based approach to managing the COVID-19 crisis. She spearheaded a major overhaul of the state’s Medicaid program, launching an innovative model focused on “whole person health” and establishing the first statewide platform to integrate social services with healthcare delivery. She also held key leadership roles at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, helping to implement the Affordable Care Act and expand access to insurance and value-based care.
A trusted voice in healthcare innovation and leadership, Dr. Cohen has been recognized with numerous national honors, including the TIME100 Health list and election to the National Academy of Medicine. She holds degrees from Cornell, Yale, and Harvard, and currently serves as an adjunct professor at the University of North Carolina. Residing in Raleigh with her family, Dr. Cohen continues to shape the future of public health and healthcare through her commitment to data-driven solutions, emerging technologies, and smart policy design.
The Future of Healthcare: Navigating Transformation Across Policy, Programs, and Practice. As the healthcare landscape undergoes profound shifts at the federal and state levels, organizations are grappling with how to adapt—and thrive. Drawing from her leadership at CMS, the CDC, and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Mandy Cohen offers a front-row view of the systemic changes reshaping the industry. She explores what's already changed, what’s on the horizon, and how providers, payers, and policymakers can stay ahead of the curve. Her presentation covers the evolution of value-based care, integration of AI, the future of Medicare Advantage, and how to navigate Medicaid reform. With an eye toward innovation in whole-person health, Dr. Cohen empowers leaders with insights to drive sustainable, people-centered change.
Gen AI in Healthcare: Innovation with Intention. Artificial Intelligence is poised to revolutionize healthcare and public health. However, without a thoughtful approach, organizations risk being left behind or making mistakes in critical areas. In this forward-looking session, Dr. Cohen demystifies the promise and pitfalls of generative AI in clinical care, insurance coverage, revenue cycle, and patient engagement and research. She shares a roadmap for implementation, starting with high-repetition, low-risk tasks, and emphasizes the importance of cross-sector data collaboration to unlock AI’s full potential. Dr. Cohen also explores key issues like transparency, privacy, and ethics, offering practical advice on establishing governance frameworks that balance innovation with trust. This talk will prepare leaders to confidently forge ahead into an AI-powered future.
Are We Ready for the Next Pandemic? Preparedness in a New Era of Public Health. Pandemic threats continue to emerge—from avian flu and measles to Ebola and malaria—raising the question: is the U.S. ready for what’s next? Dr. Mandy Cohen brings her frontline experience as CDC Director and a state health leader to assess our preparedness and chart a path forward. In this eye-opening session, she outlines the lessons learned from COVID-19 and how they must inform future planning around disease surveillance, diagnostics, supply chains, and workforce capacity. She explores the roles of federal, state, and local governments and private sector partners in coordinated response and emphasizes the importance of communication and public trust. Audiences will come away with a clear understanding of what’s at stake, where the gaps remain, and what actions organizations and governments must take now to be truly ready for the next global health emergency.
