Patrick Dumas ’16 still remembers the first time he stepped into a URI research lab. Surrounded by equipment he had only seen in textbooks, he felt a spark of possibility. That spark would eventually carry him far beyond the bench.

After graduating from the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Patrick began his career in the pharmaceutical industry, contributing to research at Pfizer in Groton, Connecticut, and Sanofi Genzyme in Massachusetts.

He loved the science, yet he found himself drawn to a bigger question. What happens after new therapies are discovered? How do they reach the people who need them most? That question led him to Washington, DC.

Today, Patrick serves as Health Policy Advisor for the U.S. House Budget Committee Republicans. He guides lawmakers through some of the nation’s most complex health policy decisions, including Medicare and Medicaid reforms that affect millions of Americans. His work includes drafting legislation, shaping committee hearings, and engaging with healthcare experts to understand the true scientific and financial implications of every proposal.

Patrick credits URI for giving him both the scientific foundation and the confidence to pursue influence beyond the laboratory. “The research that happens in the College of Pharmacy at URI makes nationwide news,” he says. “Being able to work as an undergraduate in that field is a really unique opportunity.”

Patrick’s journey shows how science can influence national change , from analyzing molecules to shaping federal budgets. He is proof that a URI education can open doors not only in the lab, but also in the halls where the future of health care is decided