HHS: ASSISTANT SECRETARY LEE ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION
Health and Human Services (HHS) Assistant Secretary forThis is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
Health Dr. Philip Lee announced that he is resigning, effective
January 31. Lee, who said he was stepping down to spend more
time with his family, said he will rejoin the faculty of the
University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) School of
Medicine. Lee said, "I am deeply grateful to President Clinton
and to Secretary [Donna] Shalala for the opportunity which they
gave me to serve as the assistant secretary for health. ... Under
their leadership, we have begun to more critically assess the
factors affecting the health of the American people, and rebuild
the infrastructure needed to assure that the health of the
American people will be protected and promoted." He added, "I
believe the policies initiated by this administration will
contribute to closing the gap in the health status of vulnerable
populations and the rest of the country, and that they will
ultimately assure access to high-quality, affordable health care
for all Americans."
MANY THANKS: Shalala said, "[Lee's] wide experience and his
heartfelt compassion for those in our society who do not have
good access to medical care have served the people of this
country well. His influence and experience have also reached far
beyond HHS. ... With his resignation this month, our loss will
be California's gain, as he returns to the UCSF Medical School.
He goes with our deepest thanks and best wishes" (HHS release,
1/24).