Her expertise spans delivery system reform, access, coverage and quality. Dr. Patel was previously Director of Policy for the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs and the Deputy Staff Director for the Senate HELP Committee, under the leadership of the late Senator Edward Kennedy. Prior to working in Washington, Dr. Patel was a clinical instructor at UCLA and an Associate Scientist at the RAND Corporation. Dr. Patel completed a fellowship in the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program at UCLA and received her medical training at the University of Texas Health Science Center and Oregon Health and Sciences University where she served as Chief Resident in Internal Medicine.