about
MARY HAYASHI
Mary Chung Hayashi is an award-winning author and is among this country’s most accomplished advocates for expanding the delivery and coverage of health care. As a national healthcare leader, public affairs strategist, and former California State Assemblymember, Mary has championed meaningful reforms to expand access to healthcare and established unprecedented partnerships in support of social causes that previously had no financial or public backing.
Mary Hayashi with First Lady Michelle Obama, Mayor Karen Bass and President Obama
As the founder of MKC Public Affairs, LLC, Mary advises business and policy leaders and organizations on navigating complex public policy issues at the local, state, and national levels. Her experience spans both coasts, collaborating with government decision-makers across the United States to create meaningful solutions for her clients.
During her time in the California State Legislature, Mary served in leadership roles under Assembly Speakers Fabian Núñez and Karen Bass. She chaired the Assembly Committee on Business, Professions, and Consumer Protection, overseeing the creation and elimination of regulatory agencies, licensing boards, and state procurement policies. Mary also served on the Assembly Health, Insurance, Revenue and Taxation, and Transportation Committees, authoring legislation to address pressing issues such as student-athlete concussion safety, suicide prevention, mental health parity, and domestic violence intervention.
Mary Hayashi with First Lady Michelle Obama, Mayor Karen Bass, and President Obama
Before serving in the legislature, Mary held public health leadership roles, including as California Director of the American Public Health Association and as Campaign Coordinator for Proposition 63, a landmark California mental health funding ballot initiative. She has also been appointed to various state boards and commissions, including the California Board of Registered Nursing and the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission.
Mary Hayashi with former 49er Eric Davis
Mary has advised national policy leaders on public health and social justice issues, including former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher. She played a key role in his national campaign to eliminate health disparities, develop a national action plan on suicide prevention, and strengthen bioterrorism preparedness, providing strategic guidance to promote equity and improve healthcare outcomes. More recently, she was appointed to the Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’s transition advisory team transition advisory team, where she helped shape the administration’s priorities.
Mary has served on the boards of organizations such as Girls, Inc., Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, the National Breast Cancer Coalition, Research!America, and NARAL Pro-Choice America. She has also contributed to national discussions on health policy, participating in the first White House Conference on Mental Health.
Mary has founded several nonprofit initiatives, including the National Asian Women’s Health Organization, which addressed health disparities often overlooked in Asian American communities, and the Women’s Sports Safety Initiative, which promotes awareness of sports-related injuries among female athletes. Her dedication to public service continues to inspire her work in healthcare policy, public affairs, and philanthropy, where she strives to create lasting change and uplift underserved communities.
Mary Hayashi with former 49er Eric Davis
work with mary
In the vanguard of healthcare, public policy, diversity and equality, Mary Hayashi’s leadership transcends the standard definition of a public affairs consultant. A proven strategist, trusted advisor, staunch reformer, and passionate champion of underserved communities, Mary has spent over 30 years forging transformative alliances and pioneering meaningful change.