As an adopted person herself, Sara Traigle van Geertruyden serves on the Board at C.A.S.E., and provides pro bono counsel to the organization on issues related to child welfare policy. Sara joined as a Partner at Thorn Run Partners in 2011. She serves as the Executive Director of the Partnership to Improve Patient Care (PIPC), which is also chaired by former Congressman Tony Coelho, primary author of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Her work is focused on policies to advance a patient-centered health system, from patient engagement in research to driving outcomes that matter to patients in healthcare payment and delivery.

Sara is a healthcare and welfare policy expert with over 20 years of experience. She began her career on Capitol Hill, working for former Senator John Breaux (D-LA) from 1996-2003, first as a projects assistant handling Congressional appropriations and advising constituents on the federal grant process, and ultimately serving as a legislative assistant, overseeing Senate Finance Committee issues on health and welfare.

In 2003, she joined the law firm, Patton Boggs where she practiced in the public policy group handling regulatory and legislative issues related to health care, child welfare, and appropriations for clients. Sara has represented clients including hospital systems, pharmaceutical companies, healthcare provider associations and coalitions. Sara was introduced to C.A.S.E. at Patton Boggs, where she began providing pro bono counsel to the organization. Her scope of work in health policy combines expertise in working with major health care and social services agencies, including the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Administration for Children and Families, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation.

Sara has a strong reputation on both sides of the political spectrum, having staffed Senator Breaux in his efforts to pass legislation that he championed with former Senator Bill Frist (R-TN) to modernize the Medicare program in his efforts to raise bipartisan ideas for health reform and re-authorization of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.

Sara received her Bachelor’s Degree from Wake Forest University and earned her juris doctor at the Catholic University Columbus School of Law.