Heitkamp Statement on Nomination of Dr. Mary Wakefield to Serve as Deputy Secretary of U.S. Health and Human Services Agency
Press Release
U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today issued the following statement after the President nominated North Dakota native Dr. Mary Wakefield to serve as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) -- the second in command at the agency.
Wakefield has served as Acting Deputy Secretary of the agency since March. Previously she served as Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency within HHS, since February 20, 2009, where she expanded access to health care and built out the country's health care workforce. HRSA is tasked with improving access to care for underserved populations, with bureaus focused on primary care, maternal and child health, health workforce, and rural health.
"Dr. Wakefield has proven time and time again throughout her career in public service that she is a true leader in expanding access to health services, an advocate for rural communities, and a top expert in her field," said Heitkamp. "Mary and I have known each other for a long time and we're both from small towns in North Dakota, which greatly shaped how we view our work in public service. The values she learned in our state, as well as her varying careers as a nurse, academic, and public servant, taught her the importance of working to bring opposing sides together to find compromise and to always fight to get the job done right. Mary has already been serving as the second in command at HHS since March and I have no doubt that when she's confirmed, she will continue her efforts to expand access to health care, especially in rural communities, and reinforce the needs of North Dakota at the Department."
Wakefield previously served as associate dean for rural health at the University of North Dakota's School of Medicine and Health Sciences. In the 1990s, she served as chief of staff to two North Dakota U.S. Senators: Kent Conrad and Quentin Burdick. Dr. Wakefield is a native of Devils Lake, N.D. She has a bachelor of science degree in nursing from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota and master's and doctoral degrees in nursing from the University of Texas at Austin.
Source