Before joining the Academy, Michael Heintz served as the Director of Advocacy and Training at the Society for Neuroscience and previously as program manager with the Maryland Energy Administration and Association of Public Health Laboratories.  Prior to that, he practiced law in Ohio. Mr. Heintz will be leading the Academy’s government relations initiatives, with a strong focus on developing new pathways to strengthen connections between our members, policy makers, and federal agencies. As we face changing standards along the advocacy landscape, Michael brings breadth of experience that will ensure the Academy is prepared to face these current challenges. Beyond advocacy, Michael will also work strategically with the Executive Director to develop and implement substantive initiatives that will provide additional value to our membership while reinforcing the impact of our outreach.