Policy, Innovation, and Industry Insights: Highlights from WHIC’s April 23 Forum

On April 23, the Washington Health Innovation Council (WHIC) gathered for a dynamic forum generously hosted by Goodwin Procter. The event brought together policy leaders, industry experts, and innovators for candid discussions on some of the most pressing issues shaping the life sciences sector.

Our conversation spanned a wide range of topics, including the recent Executive Order, looming budget challenges, the Trump Tariff Pause, and delays in Senate confirmations—particularly those affecting critical HHS appointments such as Jim O’Neill. We also underscored the strategic importance of the Deputy Secretary’s office and spotlighted SeaStar Medical as an emerging leader in medical innovation.

We were pleased to welcome Kim Zimmerman and Pat Fogarty of AdvaMed. Pat offered valuable insights into the medtech industry’s concerns around tariffs and underscored findings from WHIC’s Dark Money Report, reinforcing themes from Scott Whitaker’s recent op-ed in The Baltimore Sun.

A highlight of the forum was a fireside chat with Tevi Troy—author and former White House/HHS official—who joined us during his Dallas book tour. His remarks offered timely perspectives on the evolving dynamics between business and government, and the influence of those relationships on health policy.

Finally, we were excited to welcome several new partners, including the Tourette Association of America and Manuel Bonilla of the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

Thank you to all who joined us, contributed to the dialogue, and helped make the April forum another meaningful step in advancing health innovation policy.