Kinsley has been a driving force in reshaping behavioral health in North Carolina. Under his leadership, the state secured an unprecedented $835 million to enhance mental health care and substance use disorder treatment. By introducing systemic reforms, he expanded crisis intervention access, integrated technology for better coordination, and advanced mental health services in schools, primary care, and homes. His innovative initiatives tackled stigma head-on, delivering pioneering support for incarcerated individuals and children with complex needs, often in partnership with grassroots organizations.

Committed to lowering healthcare costs and improving system effectiveness, Kinsley prioritized addressing non-medical drivers of health. In 2022, he successfully implemented the nation’s first Healthy Opportunities Pilots, providing housing, food, and other essential services to high-need Medicaid enrollees, resulting in improved health outcomes and significant cost reductions. In 2024, Kinsley led the creation of a groundbreaking medical debt relief program, eliminating $4 billion in debt for nearly 2 million North Carolinians. Remarkably, all 99 eligible hospitals in the state joined the initiative, which leveraged federal Medicaid funding to forgive debt and implement policies preventing future financial strain for families.

A steadfast advocate for fairness, Kinsley has championed reforms addressing systemic health disparities. He led a nation-wide effort modernizing federal blood donation policies, enabling gay and bisexual men to donate for the first time in decades. During the mpox outbreak, he ensured access to care for disproportionately affected communities while raising public awareness to combat stigma. His Medicaid expansion work prioritized rural communities, where access to care was most critical.

A Wilmington native and first-generation college graduate, Kinsley earned a Bachelor’s degree from Brevard College and a Master of Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley. His distinguished career spans senior roles at the White House, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Appointed by President Barack Obama as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Management, he continued in the role under President Donald Trump.

Kinsley is a Senior Advisor with the Milken Institute, a fellow of the Aspen Institute’s Civil Society Fellowship, and serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. His enduring commitment to public service and innovation continues to shape the future of health. Read Less ^