Jim Schlicht is Executive Vice President of Government Affairs and Advocacy of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the leading nonprofit health organization dedicated to preventing and curing diabetes and to improving the lives of the more than 20 million children and adults in the United States currently living with the disease. 

Jim joined ADA in 2004, bringing more than 17 years of experience in government affairs in the pharmaceutical and medical device industry. Prior to joining ADA, Jim served as Vice President of Government Affairs at AstraZeneca and as Director of Federal Relations at Johnson & Johnson. His extensive experience in government affairs also includes a tour on Capitol Hill as the Ways and Means Counsel for U.S. Representative Cec Heftel of Hawaii and as Budget Specialist with the U.S. Office of Management and Budget in the Executive Office of the President.

Together with his dedicated staff, he is breaking new ground in advocating legislation to improve access to quality health care for individuals with diabetes. Jim’s innovative programs include ADA’s targeted advertising campaign for funding diabetes research, prevention and treatment.

Jim is currently forging new partnerships with other associations to leverage resources and expand legislative impact. Recent successes include the defeat of the Enzi bill (S. 1955), which would have jeopardized the health care coverage of millions of Americans with diabetes. Jim is also blazing the trail in advocating the passage of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, which would expand federal funding and safeguard the ethical framework for the use of embryonic stem cells. This vital research holds significant potential in the search for a cure for diabetes.

Jim is a magna cum laude graduate of Saint Bonaventure University, NY, and holds a M.P.A. from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.