Hoeven Statement on North Dakota Native Dr. Mary Wakefield's Nomination to Be Deputy Secretary of HHS

Press Release

Senator John Hoeven today released the following statement after Dr. Mary Wakefield, a native of Devils Lake, North Dakota, was nominated to be Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), second in command of the federal agency.

"Dr. Wakefield is a North Dakotan who has devoted her career to improving health care and serving the public. I had the pleasure of working with her during my time as governor of North Dakota and as a member of the U.S. Senate, and she has been a dedicated public servant and a hard-working health care advocate. Dr. Wakefield's knowledge of rural health care needs, which is particularly important to states like North Dakota, will be a valuable asset as she helps to lead HHS. I commend her on this important assignment and look forward to continuing to work with her in this new role."

Wakefield is currently serving as the acting deputy secretary at HHS. Beginning in 2009 until her appointment as acting deputy secretary, she served as Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration at HHS. From 2001-2009, she served as the associate dean for rural health at the University of North Dakota's School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Wakefield also served as chief of staff to North Dakota Senators Kent Conrad and Quentin Burdick. She received a bachelor's 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.

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