Healthcare was always part of the conversation for Julia. Her family history is closely tied to it—Grady Hospital, one of the Southeast’s most well-known medical institutions, carries her great-great-great-grandfather’s name. But her decision to pursue healthcare policy wasn’t about legacy, it was about making a tangible impact.
After earning dual degrees in Public Relations and Spanish from the University of Georgia, Julia moved to Washington, D.C., drawn to the intersection of policy and communication. Her first full-time role at PLUS Communications gave her hands-on experience in public affairs, grassroots advocacy, and coalition building.
Her continued interest in health care policy led to her current role as Senior Legislative Affairs Associate with America’s Essential Hospitals. Julia manages advocacy programs, political fundraising, and board relations—and helped launch the association’s first-ever podcast to make healthcare policy more accessible. “I love the challenge of breaking down complex policy into something real and understandable,” Julia explains. “Healthcare isn’t abstract—it affects people’s lives every day.”
Julia is also pursuing her MBA at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business as a Forté Fellow, learning how business strategy and policy intersect to improve healthcare accessibility and sustainability.
Julia credits the Bryce Harlow Fellowship mentorship as one of the most valuable aspects of the program. “Having a mentor like Chris Long, has been invaluable,” Julia said. “It’s refreshing to be part of a group where ethics and integrity in government relations is a priority.”
