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The Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA) is pleased to announce that Nicolette A. Louissaint, PhD, MBA, has been named the organization’s senior vice president of policy and strategic planning. In this newly created role, Louissaint will become a member of HDA’s Executive Management Team and report to President and Chief Executive Officer Chester “Chip” Davis, Jr. She will join HDA on January 18, 2022, from her current role serving as Executive Director and President of Healthcare Ready in Washington, D.C.
“We are thrilled for Nicolette to join HDA. From every company and organization that represents the supply chain to the highest levels of federal, state and local governments, Nicolette has built strong and meaningful relationships that will be critical as she leads our policy development and strategic planning efforts,” said Davis. “Nicolette’s perspective, experience and team-first approach will be invaluable as HDA continues to elevate its presence and engagement in Washington and beyond.”
In this leadership position, Louissaint will research and analyze policy issues impacting the healthcare distribution sector and lead the development of platforms that will inform and drive advocacy and member engagement. Through close collaboration with HDA member company subject matter experts and HDA senior staff, Louissaint will strategically formulate and guide the Alliance’s policy agenda on such issues as distribution logistics, supply chain reliability, emergency preparedness, reimbursement and healthcare affordability and access, among others.
Louissaint joined Healthcare Ready in 2015 as the Director of Programming. In 2017, she was named Executive Director and President. During her tenure, Louissaint is credited for growing Healthcare Ready into one of the most effective and visible organizations shaping our nation’s emergency response to natural disasters and, in the last two years, COVID-19. HDA helped establish Healthcare Ready in 2007 following Hurricane Katrina. Prior to Healthcare Ready, Louissaint held roles at the U.S. Department of State and Johns Hopkins Department of Medicine.
“The healthcare supply chain has never been more appreciated and scrutinized than now, and I am excited to be joining HDA at this critical time,” said Louissaint. “I am eager to lend my voice to HDA’s efforts to communicate the value the industry delivers each day to maintain healthcare resilience — and to help lead the development of policies that will shape the supply chain of the future to the benefit of providers and their patients.”
Louissaint earned her undergraduate degrees in chemical engineering and biological sciences from Carnegie Mellon University in 2006. She received her PhD in pharmacology and molecular sciences from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 2010. In 2020, Louissaint completed her MBA in global business, healthcare management at the University of Baltimore.
She has written extensively on topics of disaster preparedness as well as health equity and access. In addition, Louissaint has received several awards and honors, notably, The Root 100 – Most Influential African Americans, the Congressional Black Caucus 40 Under 40 Leaders in Health and was recognized as a finalist for the Direct Relief International Program Leader of the Year Award. Louissaint currently serves on the FEMA National Advisory Council and spent 10 years in various roles with the Greater Baltimore Urban league.
