Deborah Ann Shoemaker

Director-level government relations and healthcare public policy leader with deep experience representing physician organizations, shaping legislative priorities, and navigating state policy, association, and regulatory environments. Adept at building advocacy agendas, tracking emerging issues, developing testimony and position papers, and briefing executive, board, and physician leaders. Trusted coalition builder known for increasing member engagement, supporting PAC/grassroots efforts, aligning stakeholders around policy goals.

Independent Advocacy/Healthcare Consultant at Pennsylvania Psychiatric Leadership Council (PPLC/Council) (2021-12 – Present)

• Advise Executive Director on legislative outreach, policymaker engagement, public affairs, and stakeholder alignment.
• Lead statewide psychiatric workforce workgroups informing priorities on behavioral health access, recruitment, retention, training pipeline, and workforce development.
• Organize Continuing Medical Education programs that strengthen physician knowledge of psychiatric care and emerging healthcare issues.
• Represent Council in advisory forums within Department of Human Services and Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

Independent Advocacy Consultant/Registered Lobbyist at Pennsylvania Rheumatology Society (PRS), Pennsylvania Osteopathic Family Physicians Society (POFPS), Recovery InSight, Inc. (2021-12 – 2023-12)

• Built national/state partnerships to strengthen PRS stakeholder influence/representation on priority issues.
• Developed county-focused outreach strategy for Recovery InSight that doubled stakeholder engagement databases.
• Directed PRS outreach and member communications, increasing constituent engagement by more than 50% across two legislative sessions.
• Expanded Recovery InSight's community reach through mental health fairs, stakeholder meetings, and targeted engagement initiatives.
• Facilitated POFPS strategic planning and SWOT analysis to align organizational priorities with long-term advocacy and policy goals.
• Revamped PRS Advisory Committee, tripling membership and strengthening collaboration on cost containment and healthcare access.

Registered Lobbyist/Ethics Specialist at Pennsylvania Medical Society's Total Excellence in Association Management Department (TEAM), Pennsylvania Academy of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery (PAO-HNS), Pennsylvania Psychiatry Society (PaPS), Pennsylvania Rheumatology Society (PRS) (2020-07 – 2021-11)

• Coordinated committees, external stakeholders, lobbyists, and physician leaders to advance association priorities.
• Created issue briefs and member advocacy messages translating patient care concerns into actionable communications for consumer advocates and legislators.
• Managed multiple client initiatives with attention to advocacy outcomes, deliverables, and timelines.
• Prepared narratives, policy briefs, position papers, and testimonies used to brief association executives, board leaders, executive branch members, and lawmakers.
• Represented specialty physician clients in advisory councils, healthcare decision making forums, regulatory discussions, and stakeholder workgroups.

Senior Executive Director/Registered Lobbyist at Pennsylvania Medical Society's TEAM, Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society (PaPS/Society) (2006-09 – 2020-07)

• Analyzed PAMED policy resolutions with partners to align client positions with broader medical society priorities.
• Developed sustainability/engagement policies, including corporate sponsorship, membership initiatives, PAC promotion, and research procedures.
• Directed PaPS policy/medical economics priorities, aligning physician leadership, board goals, and PAMED advocacy strategy.
• Facilitated transition to retainer contracts by revising deliverables with PAMED and PaPS boards.
• Led six staff members/supported 1,500+ member physician association, providing executive-level operational and advocacy leadership.
• Oversaw operations for six regional chapters, including annual budgets, board coordination, and contract administration.
• Served as senior liaison to PAMED Government Relations/Medical Economics staff, representing specialty clients in recurring strategy meetings.
• Strengthened member engagement through advocacy/education campaigns supporting policy awareness and grassroots participation.

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science – Messiah University

Enrichment Program in Political Science – Temple University