HRSA Administrator Duke Wins 2006 Presidential Rank Award

HRSA Administrator Betty Duke has been selected as a recipient of a 2006 Presidential Rank Award, the most prestigious award offered to federal senior executives and professionals.

Each year, the President honors career members of the Senior Executive Service, Senior Level, and Scientific and Professional Corps for their accomplishments and service over an extended period of time in some of the nation's most critical positions in the federal government. Administrator Duke was one of only six recipients of the Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Executive from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Her selection cites several achievements:

• Her leadership in implementing President Bush’s Health Center Growth Initiative, during which the number of patients treated annually at health centers has grown from 10.3 million in 2001 to 14.1 million in 2005, a 37 percent increase.
  
  
• Her support of organ donation breakthrough collaboratives that have pushed national organ and tissue donation rates to all-time records.
  
  
• Her decision to streamline and improve internal operations at HRSA by consolidating core business functions, making grant applications and submissions available online, and rejuvenating the workforce by launching the HRSA Scholars program to attract talented new employees to the agency.

Before joining HRSA, Duke oversaw the separation of the Social Security Administration from HHS – a feat that required the division of the home office and its 125,000 employees and a budget of almost $1 trillion.

Presidential Rank Award recipients are selected after a rigorous review process, administered by the Office of Personnel Management, that includes evaluation by private citizens. This year, distinguished executive honorees included 58 individuals from 23 federal agencies and departments.

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