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King County
Executive Office
Ron Sims, King County Executive 701 Fifth Ave. Suite 3210 Seattle, WA 98104 Phone: 206-296-4040 Fax: 206-296-0194 TTY Relay: 711
Image: King County Exeutive Ron Sims, News Release

Nov. 27, 2006

Sims names new public health director

Dr. David FlemingAn international leader in public health with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been named the new director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. King County Executive Ron Sims today announced the appointment of David W. Fleming, M.D. to head the department.

"As diseases know no borders and public health is increasingly global, Dr. Fleming's leadership will assure that the best research and practices are available right here at home," said Sims in making the announcement.

"King County is already recognized as having one of the best public health departments in the country. Under Dr. Fleming's direction, we are now poised to be the best," Sims added.

The director leads the 10th largest metropolitan health department in the country by population served. He is responsible for assessing and monitoring the health status of our community, maintaining a safe environment, preventing communicable diseases, promoting healthy living conditions and behaviors, and assuring access to health care for all citizens.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels joined Executive Sims in making the appointment. "Dr Fleming has the education, experience, skills and values to be an outstanding director and health officer" said Mayor Nickels. "He is uniquely qualified to lead our Public Health Department during a time when there are many challenges to the public's health and an increasing number of people who don't have access to needed health services."

Fleming currently serves as the director of Global Health Strategies for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It is in this capacity that he has been responsible for the creation, development and oversight of cross-cutting programs targeting diseases and conditions that disproportionately affect the world's poorest people and countries. Fleming is also Clinical Associate Professor in Epidemiology at the U.W. School of Public Health.

"While it's been wonderful working at the Gates Foundation, I'm very honored to now have this opportunity to lead such a great organization," said Fleming. "The Health Department has superb staff and a history of excellence. Combined with the civic leadership and neighborhood spirit of our region, we have a powerful force for improving the health of our families and community."

In addition to his work for the Gates Foundation, Fleming has had a distinguished career in the public health sector. Prior to joining the Foundation in 2003, Dr. Fleming worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where he served from 2000 to 2003 as deputy director of CDC for Science and Public Health and in 2002 as acting director of the agency. He also served as deputy administrator for the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Fleming oversaw CDC offices of Minority Health, Global Health, Women's Health and the associate director for Science.

Before joining the CDC, Fleming served first as deputy and then as State Epidemiologist with the Oregon Health Division. He also served on the faculty of the Department of Public Health at Oregon Health Sciences University for 17 years. He received his M.D. from the State University of New York Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse. Fleming is board certified in internal medicine and preventive medicine.

Dr. Fleming's appointment is subject to confirmation by the King County Council. In addition, Mayor Nickels will submit Dr. Fleming's name to the Seattle City Council for confirmation, under a city-county public health structure.

"Dr. Fleming is a spectacular candidate and I am confident that he will lead our health department into a new era of collaboration, innovation, research and improved health outcomes for all," said Board of Health Chair and King County Councilmember Julia Patterson. "I look forward, with new public health leadership, to strengthening our valued relationships with our suburban cities as Public Health engages the region to improve the health of all residents."

With over 1,400 employees and a budget of approximately $267 million, Public Health – Seattle & King County provides health and disease prevention services that achieve and sustain safer and healthier communities. Answering the needs of an increasingly diverse population, Public Health touches many aspects of community life in providing health care, outreach and referral services to vulnerable populations, pre-hospital emergency medical care, environmental health services, targeted health prevention activities, and jail health services. Fleming will formally join the department on Feb. 6, 2007.

"Given the challenges facing the medical and public health communities, Dr. Fleming's global health experiences and skills are a perfect match for our regional needs," said Dr. Scott Barnhart, Medical Director, Harborview Hospital.

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  Updated: Nov. 29, 2006