Kanika Jefferies is a public healthcare leader and current JD candidate with an interest in health law. She is a strong advocate in mentorship and believes great mentors, near or far, develop great visionaries – and even greater leaders. She is a licensed social worker and holds a Master's Degree in Public Administration from CUNY Baruch College, and a certification in Management Studies from Cornell University’s ILR School. She was a 2006 National Urban Fellow and is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. Kanika and her husband are proud New Yorkers and parents of two vibrant teenagers.

Lilian Sepúlveda is a human rights lawyer who has dedicated her career to advancing reproductive rights. She is currently the Executive Director at Global Doctors for Choice (GDC) where she oversees the organization’s strategy and management. With partners in Brazil, Colombia, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Malta, Mexico, Rwanda, and South Africa, Lilian manages GDC’s advocacy efforts around the world. Previously the Vice President of the Global Legal Program at the Center for Reproductive Rights, Lilian has years of experience conceptualizing, and implementing strategies that have expanded access to reproductive health and rights around the world. She has designed and overseen initiatives to support advocates developing human rights litigation and law and policy reform strategies at the national, regional and international levels. Prior to joining the Center for Reproductive Rights, she worked at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.

Having been a leader with New York’s health insurance programs and advanced health system reform at the state and local levels, Lisa has a robust knowledge of subsidized coverage programs and affordability, with an emphasis on Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplaces and Basic Health Program. Lisa’s practice focuses on helping clients navigate state and federal health policy. She has worked on Marketplace implementation and compliance matters including contracts, memorandums of understanding, privacy and security, compliance with federal and state law, regulations, and guidance. Lisa also has considerable experience advising various stakeholders—such as federal, state and local government partners, advocates and health plans—on Medicaid and CHIP coverage policies, the Basic Health Program, both Section 1115 and Section 1332 waivers, and developing creative solutions to expand affordable health coverage. As the former Director of the Division of Eligibility and Marketplace Integration (DEMI) within the New York State Department of Health’s (DOH) Office of Health Insurance Programs, Lisa oversaw the NY State of Health’s (NYSOH) Customer Service Center to help provide information, application and enrollment assistance for all public health insurance programs and Qualified Health Plans offered through the Marketplace, including those provided by more than 5,000 community-based assistors. She also oversaw the Medicaid functions handled by 58 local departments of social services (LDSS) and management of Medicaid-related disability determinations, third-party coverage claims, liens and recoveries. Before joining DEMI, Lisa was the Director of the Office of Marketplace Counsel for NYSOH, where she oversaw Marketplace legal staff and the development and operation of the Appeals Unit. Earlier in her career, Lisa was a policy analyst, in which she was integral to the development and establishment of New York’s Marketplace. She also previously represented low-income New Yorkers with The Legal Aid Society’s Civil Practice, including serving as the Supervising Attorney of the Society’s Health Law Unit, where she supervised attorneys, paralegals and administrative staff. Her practice included impact litigation, development of health care policy and representation of individual clients denied access to health care benefits and/or services.