The County Council is set to meet Tuesday, Feb. 20, and the City Council on Monday, Feb. 26, to each vote on confirmation of Dr. Fleming’s appointment.

“Dr. Fleming has an outstanding background and history of work in both the public and private sector,” said King County Councilmember Julia Patterson, chair of the Board of Health. “Both his medical and public health background, and his longstanding relationships with government, local, and international stakeholders, make him uniquely and thoroughly qualified to lead our public health department in an era where global threats are synonymous with the challenges we face here in King County.”

Patterson chaired a joint meeting of the Board of Health at which the King County Council’s Law, Justice and Human Services Committee and the Seattle City Council’s Housing, Human Services and Health Committee recommended Fleming’s appointment.

“Dr. Fleming’s reach extends far beyond King County,” said Councilmember Kathy Lambert, chair of the County Council’s Law, Justice and Human Services Committee. “His work on state, national and international levels makes him the ideal candidate to lead Public Health with vision, insight, and a broad perspective on how to most effectively promote the health of King County residents.”

“The city of Seattle enthusiastically supports Dr. Fleming’s appointment to serve as Public Health director,” said City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, chair of the City Council’s Housing, Human Services and Health Committee. “I am encouraged that Dr. Fleming places importance on working collaboratively with cities and engaging the region on issues related to health.”

Dr. Fleming is currently director of the Global Health Strategies for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, where he has been responsible for the creation, development and oversight of programs targeting diseases and conditions that disproportionately impact the world’s poorest countries.

Prior to that, Fleming served as Deputy Director of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), overseeing the CDC’s offices of Minority Health, Global Health, and Women’s Health. He has served as State Epidemiologist for the Oregon Health Division, and is a Clinical Associate Professor in Epidemiology at the University of Washington School of Public Health.

Read more about this legislation on the King County Council’s LEGISEARCH system and type in “2007-0106”