Marsha Simon, Ph.D., President
Dr. Simon is an expert in legislative strategy, nonprofit management, and public policy research, with over 20 years of experience, including nearly a decade working for the United States Senate. She served as senior committee staffer to Senators Edward M. Kennedy, Tom Harkin, and Robert C. Byrd, advising them on public health and welfare policy, as well as on the budget and appropriations processes. These staff positions included minority staff director for the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies for Senator Tom Harkin; and chief policy advisor for Budget and Health Policy for the Senate Committee on Health, Education Labor, and Pensions for Senator Edward Kennedy. Senator Harkin was the chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee, as well as of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee that is responsible for public health measures, including biomedical research and food and drug law.
In addition to her experience working for the U.S. Senate, Dr. Simon has managed government relations for diverse health, income security, and welfare stakeholders, including for the Jefferson Consulting Group, a lobbying and federal business development firm; the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology; and public interest groups, including Families USA, the Food Research and Action Center, the Housing Assistance Council and Rural America (now the Community Transportation Association of America).
Dr. Simon served on Barack Obama’s health advisory committee during his presidential campaign. She also served as a policy advisor on Governor Howard Dean’s campaign and drafted his long-term care platform. She was also a member of the Clinton Administration’s National Task force on Health Care Reform.
Dr. Simon earned a Ph.D. and an M.S. in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In addition to her work at Simon&Co., Dr. Simon is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Health Policy at The George Washington University.
Karen Late, Senior Director
As director of government relations, Karen Late advocates on behalf of clients before Congress and the Administration, and she conducts research and analysis on a variety of health policy issues. With a strong track record of impacting policy and legislation to benefit clients’ needs, she has broad knowledge of healthcare issues and comprehension of the legislative and regulatory process. With 17 years in legislative advocacy experience, Ms. Late is familiar with legislation and regulation impacting Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP, as well as with physicians, medical equipment, managed care, pharmaceuticals, dialysis, nursing, immigration, and disaster preparedness.
Previously, Ms. Late was the director of federal advocacy for the Florida Hospital Association, where she developed and implemented legislative and political strategies to achieve the association’s federal regulatory and legislative goals. Before working for FHA, Ms. Late served as senior associate at Congressional Consultants, a government relations firm with expertise in dialysis reimbursement and related pharmaceuticals. In addition, she worked for the American Hospital Association on the legislative and legal advocacy team.
Ms. Late earned her MHS in health policy management from Johns Hopkins University, her Legislative Specialist Certificate from George Washington University, and her BA from the University of Florida.
Lilia Eisenstein, Executive Assistant/Legislative Associate
Lilia Eisenstein joined Simon & Co. in 2023. In her role, she conducts research, tracks legislation, and synthesizes health and human services policy developments in deliverables for clients and congressional offices. Ms. Eisenstein is also responsible for the firm’s operations.
Most recently, Ms. Eisenstein worked at the Institute of International Finance, providing research and administrative support to the Regulatory Affairs Department. She previously worked as a Policy Intern with Cornerstone Government Affairs, where she covered congressional hearings, conducted research, and tracked legislation to support clients’ strategic objectives across the health, education, immigration, and foreign affairs policy areas. Prior to that position, Ms. Eisenstein interned with The Cohen Group, a Washington-based international business and strategic advisory firm, where she conducted research to support client teams in the healthcare, pharmaceutical, defense supply, and information technology sectors.
Ms. Eisenstein earned her B.A. in Political Science with a concentration in international relations from the College of Wooster in May 2022. Her senior thesis examines the effect of the securitization of global health crises by international organizations on state response.
Ms. Eisenstein is a native of Worthington, Ohio. Visit her LinkedIn to connect or send an email to yrvfrafgrva@zwfvzbanaqpbzcnal.pbz.