From Zero to Unstoppable: Krista Drobac on Transforming Healthcare Delivery

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Mar 4, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Krista Drobac, a founding partner of Sirona Strategies and a leader in innovative healthcare models, shares her journey from a determined newcomer in D.C. to a powerhouse in healthcare policy. She dives into the evolution of telehealth and home-based care, advocating for chronic disease management. The conversation highlights the need for bipartisan approaches to healthcare reform and explores the intricacies of costs and legislation. Krista emphasizes the importance of addressing root causes of health issues through community and policy changes.

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ANECDOTE

Krista's Entry into Healthcare Policy

Krista Drobac arrived in Washington D.C. with no connections and no clear career path.
She got her start in healthcare policy by working with patient groups advocating for stem cell research.

INSIGHT

Policy's Impact on Healthcare

Public policy significantly impacts real people's healthcare experiences.
The debate over Medicare Advantage's prior authorization process exemplifies how policy decisions affect patients' access to care and costs.

INSIGHT

Shifting Healthcare Debates

Healthcare debates often focus on coverage, creating a zero-sum game.
Shifting to care models, like value-based care, offers non-zero-sum solutions.

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Note: This episode was recorded on December 17, 2024, and reflects the policy landscape and political context of that time.

When Krista Drobac arrived in Washington, D.C., fresh out of college, she had no car, no connections, and no clear path—just a determination to make a difference in politics. What began as a leap of faith quickly turned into a lifelong mission to transform healthcare policy. Today, as a founding partner of Sirona Strategies, Krista is a driving force behind some of the most innovative approaches to care delivery—from telehealth to home-based models.

Her career took root in the late 1990s, when she led a groundbreaking campaign for stem cell research, uniting patient groups to advocate for life-changing treatments. Since then, Krista has become a trusted voice in healthcare policy. She is a true leader focused on spotting growth opportunities and mitigating risks stemming from policy changes at both federal and state levels. By merging market dynamics with regulatory shifts in Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial care, she guides companies—from startups to Fortune 10 giants—in building models of care that capture new opportunities. With deep relationships across both industry and government, and a rich history in the United States Senate, the Obama Administration, the National Governors Association, and state government, she is uniquely qualified to spot trends that drive change. In addition, she founded three coalitions dedicated to ensuring patients have access to telehealth, more home-based care, and integrated social services.

In our conversation, Krista takes us behind the scenes of her journey—from her early days advocating for stem cell research to her current efforts to revolutionize care delivery. She opens up about the challenges of balancing innovation with affordability, the importance of addressing the root causes of chronic disease, and why now is the time for bold, transformative ideas in healthcare.

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