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Office on Disability

Biography of Eileen Elias, M.Ed., Deputy Director

Ms. Elias is a leader in healthcare who manages, consults, plans and coordinates policy and health and human services systems change at all levels of private and public service systems including Federal, State and local government to meet the health, human service, education, employment, housing and transportation needs of all persons with disabilities across the lifespan.

Recently appointed to the position of Deputy Director for the Office of Disability within the Office of the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, Ms. Elias is responsible for the Department's coordination, development and implementation of disability programs and initiatives that impact persons with disabilities as they relate to the President's New Freedom Initiative and all persons with disabilities.

Ms. Elias has extensive experience in addressing the needs of persons with disabilities. She served extensively in the public and private sectors, including Federal, State and local government and provider organizations. Prior to this appointment, Eileen Elias was a Special Expert at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of HHS. She also served five years as Commissioner of Mental Health for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where her impact on mental health and substance abuse issues included focusing attention on crosscutting problems of persons from all disability groups. She was known as "the Consumers' Commissioner." As Commissioner of Mental Health, Ms. Elias worked with local government, providers, advocates, family members, and consumers in planning and implementing cost-effective and efficient integrated systems of care.

Ms. Elias has published extensively, served on numerous local and national boards and received recognition awards from Federal and State organizations, providers and consumers. Ms Elias has been a guest lecturer including at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Last Revised: October 23, 2003

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