Krysten Thomas

Krysten Thomas is an associate in the Corporate Practice Group in the firm's Washington, D.C. office and a member of the firm’s Healthcare Team.

Areas of Practice

In her practice, Krysten contributes to the firm’s due diligence efforts for corporate healthcare transactions and examines healthcare regulatory matters. She is also a member of the firm’s Women in Healthcare Leadership Collaborative.

Prior to joining Sheppard Mullin, Krysten clerked, interned, and externed for Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby at the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. She also clerked at the District of Columbia Office of Administrative Hearings and for the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Counsel to the Inspector General.

Krysten earned her J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center with a Dean’s Certificate for special and outstanding service to the Georgetown community and Exceptional Pro Bono Pledge Recognition for the more than 250 hours of pro bono service that she completed as a law student. At Georgetown, she also conducted COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS research for the Georgetown Center for Global Health Science and Security and the Georgetown O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, while serving as a student attorney in the Georgetown Health Justice Alliance Clinic through which she represented a family in the mediation of a special education matter. She was a fellow with the District of Columbia Bar’s Karen Hastie Williams Leadership Fellowship Program, the Corporate Counsel Women of Color, EMILY’s List, and the New Leaders Council, as well.

Krysten earned her M.P.H. from Yale School of Public Health, after receiving the grade of honors on her master’s thesis which systematically reviewed the use of reproductive healthcare products in the context of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. At Yale, Krysten also conducted research on other reproductive health issues and maternal health disparities in Switzerland at the World Health Organization’s Reproductive Health and Research Department and in Connecticut through the Yale Global Health Justice Partnership and at Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, Inc.

Krysten additionally served as a health and judiciary legislative staffer in the United States Senate, worked as a health policy consultant, and held a variety of other public policy and public affairs positions.

Krysten currently leads as the Vice Chair of the Nominating Committee for the Yale Alumni Fund Board of Directors and serves on the Washington, DC Hall of Fame Executive Board, while also participating in other volunteer activities.

Articles

FDA Law Blog Posts

• "Hair Products with Formaldehyde Are Going Out of Style: Is Your Organization Ready for the Change?," November 3, 2023

Healthcare Law Blog Posts

• "CMS Issues CY2025 Medicare Advantage and Part D Final Rule," April 15, 2024
• "CMS Announces Medicare Advantage and Part D Rates for CY 2025," April 12, 2024

• "Recent Healthcare-Related Artificial Intelligence Developments," February 26, 2024
• "CMS Finalizes its Proposal to Advance Interoperability and Improve Prior Authorization Processes," January 26, 2024

• "CMS Promotes Competition, Transparency, Health Equity and More in the CY2025 Medicare Advantage and Part D Proposed Rule," November 13, 2023

Memberships

Member, American Bar Association (Health Law Section, Young Lawyers Division)

Member, American Health Law Association

Member, District of Columbia Bar Association

Member, Greater Washington Area Chapter, Women Lawyers Division, National Bar Association

Member, National Bar Association (Health Law Section, Women Lawyers Division, Young Lawyers Division)

Member, Washington Bar Association