Washington, D.C. – Alka Bhatt, Pharm D., and Samantha Leonardo have joined Reservoir Communications Group. Alka, who served in various strategic roles at Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) joined the firm as a senior advisor, expanding Reservoir’s knowledge and insight into market access, policy and value communications. Samantha, former press secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) COVID-19 Joint Information Center, recently joined Reservoir Communications Group, adding to the firm’s deep media relations and rapid response expertise on high-profile health care issues.

Alka brings a wide set of experiences at the intersection of science and business across health care systems and the pharmaceutical industry. Alka spent several years within the biopharmaceutical industry serving in roles across commercialization strategy, brand marketing, business operations, business integration, market access, and policy communications. Prior to her work with BMS, she had clinical experiences as a graduate intern in pharmacy across oncology centers, anticoagulant clinics, transition of care discharge units, and clinical & health system support at the Indian Health Service. Additionally, she has taken her patient experience, clinician work, and business perspective to address policy and regulatory initiatives for both trade associations and unique industry issues through policy initiatives, strategic communication, and advocacy. Alka graduated from Rutgers University, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy with a doctorate of pharmacy and Rutgers Business School with a master’s in business administration.

Samantha joins Reservoir after serving in multiple roles at HHS, including as a special assistant for the Assistant Secretary of Financial Services, communications advisor within the Administration for Children and Families, and press secretary for the COVID-19 Joint Information Center. She brings a first-hand experience leading the communications response during the earliest days of the pandemic, helping to triage communications needs across the department and preparing for the anticipated roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines. Prior to her work at HHS, Samantha served as a research analyst for the Republican National Committee and a research assistant for the Michigan Republican Party. She graduated from Michigan State University with bachelor’s degrees in international relations and Spanish.