Shambrekiá Wise

age: 34 | Health Insurance Specialist / Author | The United States Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

As a Children’s Series author, Shambrekiá Wise enjoys spreading the message of love, hope, and respect to children.  She loves seeing the positive impact that books can provide to children who face barriers which prevent them from seeing the world.  

Even more dear to her heart, Shambrekiá enjoys being a great role model for her 6-year-old daughter, Sandiya Badmus.  “Showing my daughter how impactful we can be when we focus on God’s purpose for us is life-changing,” she remarks.  “Having her form a relationship with Him based on my love for Him and the teachings I share with her is the most beautiful thing in the world.” 

Shambrekiá admits that she always wanted to work in the healthcare industry, even aspiring to be a physician at one time.  After completing college, she landed an amazing opportunity to work for The United States Department of Health & Human Services under The Office of the Secretary.  She explains, “I, along with my colleagues, would be some of the first to work on the implementation for The Affordable Care Act.  A year later, I transferred to The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to work on The Children’s Health Insurance Program.  A few years later, I would transfer back to Texas and oversee Managed Care activities in the State of Texas.  While this was not the original plan, I get to help millions of Americans and especially my Texans, obtain and retain health insurance that is unequivocally critical for their daily life.”

While she truly loves her job, Shambrekiá most enjoys being an author because it allows her to tell a story to the audience that she chooses.  She has written several books, including “Last Stop ... Dupont Circle” and “Sightseeing with Sandy.”  She knows that through the simple act of turning a page, she is giving hope, showing kindness, and spreading love to others. 

Best piece of advice:

“This is chess, not checkers. Figure it out, Mommy.” — Sandiya Badmus, Shambrekiá’s daughter

Name something about you that very few people know:

“When I was about 7 or 8, I found six puppies left alone under a house in my neighborhood. I couldn’t imagine anyone being alone on Christmas, so I took them home. Once there, I fed them leftover chicken and my aunt’s eggnog. I then used my Aunt Sherry’s brand new shoe box to make them a bed and covered them with towels. Needless to say she wasn’t happy, but they were! That is one of my most memorable Christmas holidays.”