News Release

Statement by Mike Leavitt
Secretary of Health and Human Services
On Resignation of David J. Brailer, National Coordinator for Health IT

It is with regret that I have accepted Dr. Brailer�s resignation as the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. Over the past two years, David has made significant progress in advancing the President�s health IT agenda and laying the building blocks for future progress.

While I will miss him here at HHS, I am pleased that David has agreed to serve as Vice-Chair of the American Health Information Community (The Community), which is charged with making recommendations to the Secretary of HHS to facilitate the development and adoption of standards-based health IT. David has helped the Community identify promising breakthroughs for near-term progress while continuing to move us closer to longer-term health IT goals. David will also continue to serve as a consultant to HHS to help lead the President�s health care transparency initiative.

Until a replacement for David�s position is announced, the work of the Office of the National Coordinator will continue under the leadership of the four permanent directors of the office.

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Last revised: April 21, 2006