Shawn Friesen is a Vice President in the health care practice at Van
Scoyoc Associates and possesses more than twenty years of experience in
federal health policy, legislative strategy, and political engagement.
He began his career with the House Judiciary Committee before joining
the legislative team of Rep. Tom Ewing (R-IL). He later served in
multiple roles for Rep. Mac Collins (R-GA), ultimately becoming
Legislative Director for a senior member of the House Ways and Means
Committee.
Shawn’s post–Capitol Hill career spans senior advocacy
and policy roles across the health care sector. He spent nearly seven
years with the American College of Surgeons, followed by more than a
decade at the American Academy of Dermatology Association, where he led
federal legislative strategy, political engagement, physician-leader
outreach, and grassroots mobilization. Most recently, he served as the
lead Republican lobbyist at a bipartisan consulting firm, advising
health care organizations and companies on federal policy, regulatory
strategy, and engagement with Congress and the Administration.
Through
these roles, Shawn has developed expertise in shaping advocacy
strategies, navigating complex policy processes, and building bipartisan
support. He is a trusted advisor to health care leaders and clients,
with strong relationships across Congress, federal agencies, and the
broader health policy community. In addition to his Capitol Hill
network, he maintains established connections within the White House,
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Food and Drug Administration, and
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Shawn holds a
bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and resides in Falls
Church, Virginia, with his wife and two daughters.
