Trump nominates Azar as HHS secretary

President Trump today nominated to serve as the next Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, former president of Lilly USA and deputy HHS secretary under the George W. Bush administration. “We welcome the nomination of Alex Azar to be Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services,” said AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack. “We are confident that his extensive background in business, health care and medicine distinguishes him as a uniquely qualified candidate for the vacancy. The expertise garnered from his career in the private sector and prior public service at HHS as Deputy Secretary will prove to be particularly valuable in addressing the serious challenges facing our nation's health care system today. We look forward to working side-by-side with him to achieve our mission of advancing the health of the patients and communities we are privileged to serve." Tom Price, M.D., resigned as HHS secretary on Sept. 29. Eric Hargan, who previously served on the president’s transition team and as HHS deputy general counsel, has been serving as acting secretary.