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Secretary Sebelius meets with Charlie Johnson and thanks him for his leadership as Acting HHS Secretary. (Photo by Max Harper and Adam Parr)

SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS

On my first day, I had the chance to meet some of the many professionals who serve our country here at the Department of Health and Human Services.

It is a great privilege to serve as your Secretary and I look forward to meeting more of you in the days ahead.


Secretary Sebelius meets with Charlie Johnson and thanks him for his leadership as Acting HHS Secretary. (Photo by Max Harper and Adam Parr)

Secretary Sebelius brought together department heads for a briefing on the ongoing response to the H1N1 Flu Virus outbreak. Acting CDC Director Dr. Richard Besser participated in the meeting by phone from Atlanta. (HHS Photos by Chris Smith)

SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS

On my first day, I had the chance to meet some of the many professionals who serve our country here at the Department of Health and Human Services.

It is a great privilege to serve as your Secretary and I look forward to meeting more of you in the days ahead.


Secretary Sebelius brought together department heads for a briefing on the ongoing response to the H1N1 Flu Virus outbreak. Acting CDC Director Dr. Richard Besser participated in the meeting by phone from Atlanta. (HHS Photos by Chris Smith)

Secretary Sebelius and senior staff discuss how HHS is working to slow the transmission of virus, and how to minimize the disruption in our communities, schools and workplaces. (HHS Photos by Chris Smith)

SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS

On my first day, I had the chance to meet some of the many professionals who serve our country here at the Department of Health and Human Services.

It is a great privilege to serve as your Secretary and I look forward to meeting more of you in the days ahead.


Secretary Sebelius and senior staff discuss how HHS is working to slow the transmission of virus, and how to minimize the disruption in our communities, schools and workplaces. (HHS Photos by Chris Smith)

Before beginning the meeting, Secretary Sebelius went around the room to meet the team of leaders working on the outbreak response. (HHS Photos by Chris Smith)

SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS

On my first day, I had the chance to meet some of the many professionals who serve our country here at the Department of Health and Human Services.

It is a great privilege to serve as your Secretary and I look forward to meeting more of you in the days ahead.


Before beginning the meeting, Secretary Sebelius went around the room to meet the team of leaders working on the outbreak response. (HHS Photos by Chris Smith)

Secretary Sebelius introduces herself to a group of HHS Officials hard at work, responding to the H1N1 outbreak. (HHS Photos by Chris Smith)

SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS

On my first day, I had the chance to meet some of the many professionals who serve our country here at the Department of Health and Human Services.

It is a great privilege to serve as your Secretary and I look forward to meeting more of you in the days ahead.


Secretary Sebelius introduces herself to a group of HHS Officials hard at work, responding to the H1N1 outbreak. (HHS Photos by Chris Smith)

Secretary Sebelius and Dr. Richard Besser, participating from the CDC’s studio in Atlanta, explain how members of the public can protect themselves and limit the spread of this virus. (HHS Photos by Chris Smith)

SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS

On my first day, I had the chance to meet some of the many professionals who serve our country here at the Department of Health and Human Services.

It is a great privilege to serve as your Secretary and I look forward to meeting more of you in the days ahead.


Secretary Sebelius and Dr. Richard Besser, participating from the CDC’s studio in Atlanta, explain how members of the public can protect themselves and limit the spread of this virus. (HHS Photos by Chris Smith)

Secretary Sebelius, DHS Secretary Napolitano, and Rear Admiral Schuchat of CDC attend a bipartisan lunch with members of the House of Representatives. Members posed questions about the H1N1 virus and offered their support. (Photo by Ellen Wan)

SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS

On my first day, I had the chance to meet some of the many professionals who serve our country here at the Department of Health and Human Services.

It is a great privilege to serve as your Secretary and I look forward to meeting more of you in the days ahead.


Secretary Sebelius, DHS Secretary Napolitano, and Rear Admiral Schuchat of CDC attend a bipartisan lunch with members of the House of Representatives. Members posed questions about the H1N1 virus and offered their support. (Photo by Ellen Wan)

Secretary Sebelius meets with Secretary Napolitano at the Department of Homeland Security. Following their meeting, they held a news conference with the CDC’s Dr. Anne Schuchat on the joint response to the virus. (HHS Photos by Chris Smith)

SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS

On my first day, I had the chance to meet some of the many professionals who serve our country here at the Department of Health and Human Services.

It is a great privilege to serve as your Secretary and I look forward to meeting more of you in the days ahead.


Secretary Sebelius meets with Secretary Napolitano at the Department of Homeland Security. Following their meeting, they held a news conference with the CDC’s Dr. Anne Schuchat on the joint response to the virus. (HHS Photos by Chris Smith)

Dr. Anne Schuchat of the CDC, Secretary Sebelius and Secretary Napolitano following the press conference at the Department of Homeland Security. HHS and DHS have been working in concert to aggressively respond to the outbreak. (HHS Photos by Chris Smith)

SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS

On my first day, I had the chance to meet some of the many professionals who serve our country here at the Department of Health and Human Services.

It is a great privilege to serve as your Secretary and I look forward to meeting more of you in the days ahead.


Dr. Anne Schuchat of the CDC, Secretary Sebelius and Secretary Napolitano following the press conference at the Department of Homeland Security. HHS and DHS have been working in concert to aggressively respond to the outbreak. (HHS Photos by Chris Smith)

Secretary Sebelius and Chief of Staff Laura Petrou depart HHS for the White House. There, the Secretary attended a briefing on the latest news about the virus. (HHS Photos by Chris Smith)

SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS

On my first day, I had the chance to meet some of the many professionals who serve our country here at the Department of Health and Human Services.

It is a great privilege to serve as your Secretary and I look forward to meeting more of you in the days ahead.


Secretary Sebelius and Chief of Staff Laura Petrou depart HHS for the White House. There, the Secretary attended a briefing on the latest news about the virus. (HHS Photos by Chris Smith)

Kathleen Sebelius Confirmed as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services

Kathleen Sebelius was sworn in as the 21st Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Tuesday, April 29, 2009. The Secretary governs one of the largest civilian departments in the federal government with more than 67,000 employees. HHS is the principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans by providing effective health and human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves.

 Secretary Sebelius has over 20 years of experience in state government, and has been a leader on health care issues for over a decade. She was first elected governor of Kansas in 2003 and was reelected in 2006. Throughout her tenure, Sebelius was lauded for her record of bipartisan accomplishment. She worked tirelessly to grow the state’s economy and to create jobs, to ensure that every Kansas child received a quality education, and to improve access to quality and affordable health care. As Governor, Sebelius expanded Kansas’ newborn screenings, put a renewed emphasis on childhood immunization and increased eligibility for children’s health coverage. More than 59,000 additional children were enrolled in health coverage during her time in office. Sebelius also worked closely with Kansas first responders and law enforcement to prepare for natural disasters and other emergencies. In 2005, Time magazine named her one of the nation’s top five governors.

Prior to her tenure as Governor, Secretary Sebelius spent 8 years serving as the Kansas State Insurance Commissioner.  In that capacity, Sebelius turned her department into a steadfast advocate for Kansas consumers, and helped senior citizens save more than $7 million on prescription drugs. She also won praise for blocking the sale of Kansas Blue Cross/Blue Shield by an out-of-state, for-profit health care conglomerate, and for her role in drafting a proposed national bill of rights for patients. Previously, she was a member of the Kansas House of Representatives from 1986-1994.

Married to husband, Gary, a federal magistrate judge, for 34 years, they have two sons: Ned and John.

Secretary Portrait (1.0 MB)
HHS Office Structure