Jennifer Holloway: From Cancer Survivor to Medical Debt Activist

Jennifer Holloway, a 32-year-old staff attorney at Tzedek DC, leads the organization's Medical Debt Project, combining individual legal representation with policy advocacy. After a cancer diagnosis during college left her debt-free due to insurance, she now fights systemic inequities in medical debt. A key priority is DC's Medical Debt Mitigation Amendment Act, developed with Councilmember Christina Henderson, which passed unanimously in June 2026 and awaits mayoral review. The act would require hospitals to offer three-year payment plans, ban medical debt from credit reports, and prohibit wage garnishments and home liens. Holloway holds a Master's in social work from Washington University and a Juris Doctor from UC Berkeley, with experience at the New York State Attorney General's Health Care Bureau and the National Center for Youth Law. She emphasizes that medical debt disproportionately affects Black Americans and people with disabilities, and that most debtors have insurance but cannot afford deductibles. Her work was highlighted in CULTURED's 2026 Young Activists list, nominated by Undue Medical Debt Executive Director Allison Sesso.