Ray Quintero currently serves as Director of the Department of Government Relations at the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) in Washington, DC.  In this capacity he oversees the AOA’s diverse government relations operation, which includes the legislative, advocacy, and political operations of the organization.  Prior to his current position, he was the AOA’s Deputy Director of Government Relations from 2011-2012 and Director of Congressional Affairs from 2006-2008.  During his tenure he has led the association’s efforts on many issues, including Medicare physician payment, medical liability reform, graduate medical education, delivery system reform, and efforts to implement new payment models for physicians under both public and private systems.  He has also represented the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) as their Director of Government Relations. Quintero is well versed in the diverse issues of health care policy.  He is actively involved in numerous multi-stakeholder coalitions aimed at improving our nation’s health care delivery and financing systems and is actively involved health care workforce issues.   He previously held government relations positions at Merck Pharmaceuticals and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.  Quintero was also Vice President of Strategic Alliances at 720 Strategies where he provided grassroots consultation to a variety of health care clients. He began his career in health care government relations as a lobbyist in the Health and Life Sciences practice of B&D Consulting.  A native of Arizona, Quintero graduated from the University of Arizona where he served as Student Body President and on the Arizona Alumni Association Board.