The Obesity Care Advocacy Network (OCAN) was formally announced during ObesityWeek® 2015. Our founding members formed an advocacy network to change how we perceive and approach obesity in the U.S.
OCAN works to increase access to evidence-based obesity treatments by uniting key stakeholders and the broader obesity community around significant education, policy and legislative efforts.
OCAN’s mission is to change how the nation perceives and approaches obesity in the United States. We seek to elevate obesity on the national agenda by uniting and aligning obesity stakeholders and the community around key obesity-related efforts.
The Congressional Advocacy Priorities and Strategies (CAPS) Workgroup advocates for policymakers to pass legislation, including the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA), that supports coverage of and access to obesity treatment, prevention and care.
Christine is the Senior Center Administrator for the Sumner M. Redstone Global Center for Prevention and Wellness at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University. In her current role, Christine performs research and manages the many outreach, operational and administrative functions of the Redstone Center, in addition to serving as a key advisor to the Center’s Chair, Dr. William Dietz. She has been managing the STOP Obesity Alliance since she began at GW in 2011. Much of her research on obesity treatment and coverage has been published in the journal Obesity.
Christine received her Master’s in Public Affairs from the University of Texas’ LBJ School of Public Affairs, and has spent over 25 years working in Washington DC. She began her career at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she worked in the Secretary’s office and for the Assistant Secretary for Legislation. In 2001, Christine became the Director of the Governor of Missouri’s Washington office, where she held several leadership positions on key National Governors Association panels and task forces. Before joining GW, she spent time as a consultant researching and writing on health care issues.
Hannah Martin is Director of Legislative and Government Affairs at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. Her focus on health care and public health includes federal advocacy, writing regulatory comments, helping to develop Academy policy, and representing the Academy in advocacy coalitions, including OCAN.
Previously, Hannah was a senior policy analyst at the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), focusing on federal public health and nutrition policy. She received her MPH and BSPH in nutrition from UNC Chapel Hill and is currently a DrPH candidate in health policy at the George Washington University.
Rob Goldsmith is the Director of Advocacy and Policy at the Endocrine Society where he oversees legislative and regulatory issues pertaining to diabetes, obesity, and physician practice issues. He oversees the Clinical Affairs Core Committee and represents the Society as a co-chair of the Obesity Care Advocacy Network. Rob worked on obesity issues as a congressional staffer on Capitol Hill. He developed legislation aimed at lowering childhood obesity, and also worked on the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act which reauthorized federal school meal and child nutrition programs.
Rob has a B.A. in history and secondary education from Carthage College and a master’s degree in education with a focus on public policy from The University of Virginia.