Julia Drefke has nearly two decades of experience in health care policy, advocacy, and community impact. At Adventist Health, she leads the organization’s Public Policy and Advocacy, Community Impact, and Grants strategies across its entire system.

Previously, Julia served as Policy Director for the Adventist Health Policy Association (AHPA), representing five Seventh-day Adventist–sponsored health systems encompassing 84 hospitals and more than 300 health facilities in 17 states. Her expertise spans legislative affairs, hospital tax exemption, population health, and healthy communities. She co-authored the 2015 AHPA publication Five Steps to Health in America: A Health Policy Agenda for the Next President and Congress of the United States.

Earlier in her career, Julia spent six years with Florida Hospital’s Government Relations & Public Policy team and worked in the nonprofit sector on fundraising and grant writing initiatives. She serves on advocacy committees for the California Hospital Association, American Hospital Association, and Academy Advisors, and has held board roles with organizations including the Humboldt Area Center for Harm Reduction (CA), Central Florida Women’s Resource Center, and BETA Center for teen mothers in Orlando.

Julia holds a master’s in public administration from the University of San Francisco and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida.

Drefke briefed journalists in September 2025: Medicaid, Hospitals & the Big Beautiful Bill: ‘People Don’t Appreciate the Ripple Effect.’