Nick Garlow is a Managing Director in the Health Practice at Rational where he leads integrated communications, digital public affairs, and stakeholder engagement campaigns for Fortune 500 biopharmaceutical companies, national, state, and local non-profit patient and provider organizations, and trade associations across a range of complex policy, public affairs, and reputational issues.
Nick brings a deep understanding of the media and stakeholder landscape and political environment to companies and organizations facing healthcare policy, market access, and issues management challenges in Washington and states. Nick has proven experience managing integrated strategies to advance business, policy, and public affairs objectives for clients and shape the media, digital, and advocacy landscape to influence decision maker audiences.
At Rational, Nick has led successful public affairs campaigns supporting more than 200 distinct federal and state legislative and regulatory initiatives, spanning patient access and affordability issues, the opioid crisis, Medicare and Medicaid policy, insurance benefit design, and more.
Prior to joining Rational, Nick spent nearly a decade in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). As Digital Media Advisor at HHS, Nick led digital strategy for the HHS Secretary, coordinated Department-wide digital communications and information sharing, and executed communications and digital strategies to implement the Affordable Care Act (ACA), encourage Americans to enroll in health insurance through HealthCare.gov, and address public health crises such as Zika and Ebola. His contributions earned him multiple HHS awards, including the HHS Distinguished Service Award and several Division Team Success recognitions.
Prior to his time at HHS, Nick served as the News Director at WERS 88.9 FM in Boston, Massachusetts. Under his leadership, WERS earned the 2010 AP News Station of the Year award.
Nick received his Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. Upon graduation, Nick was recognized with the Mike Morgan Award from Emerson College’s Department of Journalism for exemplary service and career achievement in broadcast journalism.
Nick is an active member of the Public Affairs Council.