Secretary Azar Announces Senior Advisor for Drug Pricing Reform

On Thursday, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced that John O’Brien, will serve as Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Drug Pricing Reform. Previously, O’Brien had served as Advisor to the Secretary for health reform and drug pricing, as well as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Policy within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.

“John O’Brien has already been an integral leader in HHS’s efforts to bring down the high price of prescription drugs,” said Secretary Azar. “As a senior advisor, he will carry forward the legacy of our departed colleague Dan Best and build on the substantial progress that has already been made. John will continue to play an important role in our overall efforts to deliver Americans better, more affordable healthcare.”

Prior to his time at HHS, O’Brien, a pharmacist, was Vice President of Public Policy for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. He has also worked at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Notre Dame of Maryland University College of Pharmacy, and various pharmacy and pharmaceutical organizations.

O’Brien has a master’s degree in public health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a doctor of pharmacy degree from Nova Southeastern University, and studied pharmacy and public policy at the University of Florida.