Iris Sanchez

As Director of Clinical Infrastructure, Iris provides strategic leadership over systems and operations that support high-quality, accessible patient care, including clinical infrastructure and language access services at Whitman-Walker Health. She brings a unique, end-to-end perspective shaped by progressive advancement within the same organization, from frontline roles to senior leadership. Prior to her current role, she served as Senior Manager of Clinical Infrastructure and Language Access Coordinator and previously led call center operations. These experiences provided deep insight into patient access, workforce support, operational scalability, and equitable care delivery across diverse patient populations.

Iris’ professional journey began in the legal field in Arlington, VA immediately of high school, where she interpreted, transcribed documents, and supported families through the bail process, including cases involving non-U.S. citizens transferred to ICE custody. This early exposure to the justice system shaped her leadership philosophy, instilling a deep commitment to advocacy, equity, and navigating complex systems on behalf of others. From a young age, she served as an interpreter for her father during medical visits ensuring that his language barrier would not limit his ability to receive medical care, which then also sparked her interest in healthcare. Alongside the legal field work, she sought to gain experience in private medical practice, providing front-line and clinical support. For a few years, I pursued both paths, legal and medical, before seeking broader challenges.

Iris joined the U.S. Army as Active Duty, where she developed expertise in logistics, safety, and mission-critical operations. Her initial Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) had her attached to a distribution unit, before she transitioned into medical logistics, managing essential supplies and ensuring readiness. In these roles, she led teams, supervised personnel, coordinated training sharpening my ability to lead diverse teams, executed complex initiatives, and implemented results-driven strategies under pressure.

Upon leaving the military, Iris first worked at Children’s National Hospital, before joining Whitman-Walker Health, where she advanced from front-line roles to executive leadership. Today, as Director of Clinical Infrastructure, Iris focuses on designing and scaling systems that remove barriers, elevate equity, and improve access to care, particularly for historically underserved populations. She leads with the belief that operational excellence and justice are inseparable, and she is committed to building healthcare systems that are inclusive, accountable, and centered on the people they serve.