Dr. Umair Shah Replaces Wiesman As Secretary Of Health

OLYMPIA, WA — Dr. Umair Shah has begun his tenure as the next Washington State Secretary of Health. Shah replaces Dr. John Wiesman, who had accepted a new position after heading the Washington State Department of Health for nearly eight years.

Before taking the job as Washington state's next top health official, Shah lead the Harris County Public Health Department in Houston, Texas for the past seven years — meaning he was at the helm as the department battled the swine flu, Ebola, and Zika virus, and recently, the coronavirus pandemic. Before that, he served as an emergency department physician and as Chief Medical Officer for the Galveston County Health District.

At a conference in November introducing Shah as the next Secretary of Health, Gov. Jay Inslee touted Shah as a nationally recognized leader in health issues, particularly the issue of health care equity.

"He has an informed appreciation for equity issues, which we are particularly appreciative of now, particularly regarding the disparity of outcomes in this particular pandemic," Inslee said.

At his introductory conference, Shah also touched on issues of equity, and other issues the state health department is tackling.

"I also am equally privileged to join you and your vision of health," Shah said. "I know your focus obviously right now is on COVID-19, but well beyond COVID-19 everything else that is happening in the state of Washington related to health equity, related to issues in the environment, related to healthcare access, and certainly so many other ways of really making sure that we're ensuring the health and wellbeing of all Washingtonians. It's a great honor."

Shah's installment has been a long time coming. Secretary of Health Wiesman first revealed he would be stepping down in spring, announcing his departure early to avoid distracting from the Department of Health's pandemic response.

"There is much work that remains to be done in the upcoming eight months before I leave this position," Wiesman said at the time of his announcement. "Most pressing, and job number one, is continuing to mount a strong, coordinated response to the COVID-19 disease outbreak here in Washington State, so we can have a safe start to reopening the economy and protecting the public's health."

Wiesman leaves the position for one at University of North Carolina's Gillings School of Global Public Health, which he had accepted before the public health crisis began. He will begin working there next July.

"Serving as the secretary of health under Governor Inslee's leadership has been a true honor, and leading the dedicated employees of the Department of Health is an opportunity I have treasured," Wiesman said.