25+ yearsof clinical practice
A decadeinside federal payment policy
Johns HopkinsBloomberg School of Public Health
Weeklypolicy brief on Substack
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Who She Is

Physician. Transformational Healthcare Leader. Healthcare Payment Policy Expert. Change Agent.

Dr. Dawn Francis is a practicing clinician whose career has been built at the intersection of clinical medicine, practice operations, and healthcare payment policy. With more than 25 years of experience, she is now focusing her work on reforming healthcare payment policy with the goal of creating broad access to affordable, high-quality care. She does this as an educator first — explaining how the system works, plainly and without partisanship, so that patients, clinicians, and leaders can make better decisions inside it.
Mission
To bridge the gap between the lived clinical experience and healthcare policy — ensuring the voices of patients and frontline physicians are heard where healthcare payment policy decisions are made, and that those decisions are grounded in outcomes evidence.
Vision
A healthcare system where access, quality, and affordability are within reach for every patient, in every community.
Dr. Dawn Francis
MD, MHS, AGAF, FACG
Physician & Healthcare Payment Policy Expert
Dr. Dawn Francis
Her Story

A Career Built Where Medicine Meets Policy

Dr. Francis set out on this path deliberately. Before she entered medical school, her graduate training at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health taught her a lesson that has shaped everything since: the health of a nation is determined by how seriously its government prioritizes the health of its citizens. So while she built a clinical career within a practice and an organization she loves, she pursued a second track in parallel — steadily deepening her knowledge, experience, and understanding of healthcare payment policy.

Today she channels both halves of that career into presentations, writing, and teaching that help the general public, patients, clinicians, healthcare leaders and policy makers understand the forces shaping care — clearly, and without partisanship.

It is a good and worthy thing to heal patients one at a time. But if she can use what she has learned to help heal the healthcare system itself, that is a life well lived.
Her Focus Areas

The Healthcare Challenges She Speaks To

Dr. Francis addresses the systemic issues at the heart of today's healthcare landscape — bringing clarity and evidence-based perspective to every room she enters, without partisan spin.
Healthcare Access & Affordability
Healthcare Payment Policy & Reform
Government Reimbursement (Medicare & Medicaid)
Digital & Virtual Care
Quality, Safety & Avoidable Harm
Trust in Healthcare
Book a Speaking Engagement
Access & Affordability

Community Health Dr. Francis makes the case that access and affordability are solvable problems, not partisan ones. Her presentations give healthcare leaders a clear-eyed look at where the gaps are and concrete, evidence-based steps to close them.

 

Policy Access
How Healthcare Is Paid For

Health Finance Most people — including many clinicians — have never been taught how a medical bill actually comes to exist. Dr. Francis demystifies the payment models that quietly shape the way healthcare is delivered.

 

Payment ModelsMedicare & Medicaid
Digital & Virtual Care

Care Delivery Virtual care moved from the margins to the mainstream almost overnight. Dr. Francis shares hard-won lessons from building it in real time — what scaled, what didn't, and what it means for the future of how patients and clinicians connect.

 

TelehealthInnovation
Our Process

Booking Dr. Francis Is Simple

Submit an Inquiry
Tell us about your event — the audience, format, date, and topic focus. We'll review your request and follow up within 24 hours.
Schedule a Discovery Call
We'll connect to learn more about your event goals and confirm that Dr. Francis is the right fit. Availability and logistics are finalized at this stage.
Customize the Presentation
Dr. Francis tailors every keynote to your audience and agenda. You'll receive an outline for your review before the event.
Take the Stage Together
Dr. Francis arrives prepared, energized, and ready to deliver a presentation your audience will be talking about long after the event ends.

For Event Organizers

Speaker Kit

Official Headshots

Dr. Dawn Francis headshot, navy jacket Dr. Dawn Francis headshot, black turtleneck

High-resolution portraits for programs and promotion. Click any photo to download it.

Talk Topics

Five signature talks, each tailored to the audience and agenda.

See all five talks Download the Speaker Kit (PDF)

Book Dr. Francis

Tell us about your event — the audience, format, date, and topic focus. We’ll follow up within 24 hours.

Start Your Inquiry

Thought Leadership

Dr. Dawn Francis Dr. Dawn Francis

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    Be Connected

    Ready to Bring Dr. Francis to Your Next Event?

    Whether you're planning a conference, grand rounds, policy forum, or executive retreat — reach out to start the conversation. We'll respond within 24 hours.
    Email
    info@drdawnfrancis.com