Mary Fernandes Assistant Director of Federal Strategy

As Assistant Director of Federal Strategy, Mary works on several legislative and regulatory health care issues of importance to the university and health system, including telehealth, 340B, provider reimbursement, workforce expansion, and more. She works closely with peers in the academic medical center community and external partners to advance Johns Hopkins’ mission of improving the health of the community and the world.

Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, Mary completed an American Psychological Association (APA)/American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Congressional Fellowship, where she worked for Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) for a year covering the health care portfolio. She previously served in several leadership and advocacy roles, including as past member of the APA Board of Directors, Member-at-Large on the Society for Clinical Neuropsychology Board of Directors, and member of the APA Council of Representatives.

Mary received her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Georgia State University after completing her clinical internship at the Washington D.C. VAMC, and she obtained her bachelor’s degrees in animal science and psychology from the University of Maryland in College Park. She is a licensed clinical neuropsychologist, and her clinical experience has spanned healthcare systems, including private practice, local and state clinics, national healthcare systems (i.e., Veterans Health Administration), and academic medical centers. She is a Fellow of the Research-to-Policy Collaboration, a non-partisan organization that bridges research and policy, and she is former recipient of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program. When she is not working, Mary enjoys hiking, playing soccer, painting, and spending time with her family and friends, especially her dog Nymeria.