Samuel Watters is a policy advisor to Secretary Kennedy in the Immediate Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. His portfolio includes the Center for Medicare, the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality, the Center for Program Integrity, and CMMI, as well as the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. Guided by a commitment to patient safety, his work at HHS centers on redesigning payment incentives and coverage policies to drive sustained investment in safety and quality across healthcare settings. In July, he began leading Secretary Kennedy’s Nutrition Education Initiative, in partnership with the Department of Education, focused on expanding nutrition education across the medical education continuum. Previously, Sam served as Advisor and later Chief of Staff in the Office of the Director at AHRQ, where he led the agency’s 21st Century Care initiative, supported COVID-19 response efforts, and drove legislative and communications strategy. He has also held senior health policy roles in the private sector and on Capitol Hill, advising on Medicare payment, coverage, and reimbursement policy, including for digital health and emerging technologies. (Washington, DC)