Dan Leonard is the president and chief executive officer of the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC), which sponsors and conducts research on a number of critical health policy issues. NPC’s research and thought leader convenings contribute to the scientific foundation for informed discussions about health care evidence, access, value and innovation. Under Mr. Leonard’s leadership, NPC has generated critical research and created tools to assist decision makers in their use and application of real-world evidence; undertaken a critical role in the evolving areas of value assessment, value-based contracting, and the importance of maintaining a robust innovation ecosystem; and launched a multi-year effort on the critical topic of health care spending in America. Prior to NPC, Leonard was executive vice president of advocacy and professional services for America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). He is a veteran communications and media strategist with more than 20 years of experience in strategic communications, legislative management, politics and broadcast journalism. He received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio, where he serves on the Board of Trustees. He also received his master’s in government from Johns Hopkins University.