Most U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretaries have not been medical doctors (MDs).
There have only been a few that have been doctors.
For instance, President Joe Biden’s Secretary of HHS Xavier Becerra is not a doctor. He is a lawyer and a politician.
(NOTE: Before that 1979, HHS was know as HEW (Department of Health Education and Welfare). HEW was started in 1955 under President Eisenhower.)
While some have been doctors, others have had backgrounds in law, public policy, business, or other fields. HHS Secretaries are typically chosen for their leadership experience, political connections, and ability to oversee a massive department with responsibilities ranging from healthcare policy to social services.
Here’s a sample breakdown of the backgrounds of a few:
Medical Doctors:
A few HHS Secretaries have been physicians, such as:
Louis W. Sullivan (1989–1993): A physician and former dean of Morehouse School of Medicine.
Tom Price (2017): An orthopedic surgeon and former congressman.
Other Healthcare Backgrounds:
Some have had experience in public health or healthcare management without being doctors, like:
Donna Shalala (1993–2001): An academic and public health administrator.
Xavier Becerra (2021–present): An attorney with a strong focus on healthcare policy as California Attorney General, but not a physician.
Legal and Political Backgrounds:
Many Secretaries have been lawyers or politicians, reflecting the need for policy and administrative expertise.
The position requires more of an ability to manage a complex bureaucracy and advocate for health and social policies than direct medical expertise.