Sachs Media is expanding its footprint in the health policy arena with the launch of SachsHEALTH, a new division dedicated to helping health care and life sciences organizations navigate regulatory fights and public affairs campaigns across the country.
The Tallahassee-based firm announced the initiative Tuesday, formalizing what it says has become its fastest-growing practice area as Sachs Media marks its 30th year in business.
SachsHEALTH will focus on public affairs strategy, advocacy and issue campaigns spanning state capitals and Washington. The firm says the division is designed to help clients operate in a policy environment where decisions are increasingly being shaped simultaneously by Governors, state Legislatures, federal regulators and Congress.
“Health care policy and regulation today are shaped in 50 states concurrently. Governors, state legislatures, CMS, and Congress are all moving on the same issues at the same time, and often in opposite directions,” said Ryan Cohn, Partner and Chief Strategy Officer at Sachs Media. “SachsHEALTH gives our clients a team that can run real campaigns on each of those fronts at the same time.”
Cohn, who was recently named Chief Strategy Officer, will oversee the division as part of his broader role guiding the firm’s long-term strategy, growth and innovation.
SachsHEALTH will offer services including multistate public affairs and issues management, research and message development, digital advocacy, stakeholder engagement and crisis response.
The firm is also bringing on Byron Johnson as Vice President of Health to help lead the division’s health care practice alongside Cohn. Johnson brings more than two decades of experience in health care communications and public affairs, most recently at FleishmanHillard. He has previously led communications programs for companies including Pfizer, Philips, Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Humana.
“After two decades inside health care companies and the agencies that serve them, I know the difference between a firm that hands you a strategy deck and one that picks up the phone when a bill drops in a statehouse at 10 p.m.,” Johnson said.
Health care and life sciences clients already make up a significant share of Sachs Media’s roster, with recent and current engagements including HCA Healthcare, Pfizer, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, Florida Healthy Kids, Empath Health and Walgreens.
