washington business
In Their Words
Dr . Umair A . Shah began his tenure as the new Washington state secretary of health last December . He previously served as executive director and local health authority for Harris County Public Health in Texas . In that role , he helped lead the response of the nation ’ s third-largest county to a number of public health threats , including Ebola and Zika .
A former emergency department physician , Shah brings both clinical expertise and public health experience to his new position . He recently spoke with Debbie Ritenour of Washington Business about his move to the Pacific Northwest , his immediate and long-term goals , and how employers can support the Department of Health ( DOH ) today and in the future .
Welcome to Washington ! You spent more than 20 years in Texas before moving up here in December . How is the transition to the Pacific Northwest going so far ?
This has been a difficult time to make a transition as we roll out vaccines and continue the state ’ s response to Covid-19 . In usual times when starting a position like this , there would be an opportunity to meet with stakeholders , spend time with communities , and learn the general landscape of the public health and healthcare system . I hoped early on to do 100 days of listening in communities and with partners throughout the state , but unfortunately , Covid took that and put it off to the side . Right now , my focus is on getting the Covid-19 response right and making sure that we are doing everything we can to vaccinate as many Washingtonians as possible .
Dr . Umair Shah
You took office as the Washington state secretary of health during a tumultuous time , to say the least . How has your background in public health prepared you to lead the Department of Health through the Covid-19 pandemic ?
I bring 17 years of public health experience , including deep experience with emergency response , and 21 years as a clinician . I have also been on the front lines fighting this pandemic in a county with a population of almost 5 million . Since starting this position , I have been getting to know the state of Washington . I have now visited many communities and partners throughout the state to see different parts of the Covid-19 response and health system in action . I will continue to listen and learn more about how I can support the health and well-being of people in every part of the state .
What do you think the long-term impact of Covid-19 will be on our state ’ s health care system ?
The pandemic has underlined the importance of public health and the social factors that impact health – things like housing , transportation , education and equity . In our country , we spend so many dollars on health care delivery rather than on public health , and we have seen the impact of that chronic underinvestment in this pandemic . The health care system will also be facing other challenges created or amplified by the pandemic , including financial concerns and health impacts for people who delayed or went without medical care .
My immediate goals are to protect Washingtonians and get us out of this pandemic . In the longer term , I believe we can work together to transform our state ’ s public health system . We need a well-recognized , well-resourced health system that ’ s strong , adaptable and responsive to community needs . To realize the goal of becoming America ’ s healthiest state , we must seek innovative solutions and partnerships with communities and businesses .
14 association of washington business