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The Secretary - FAQs:
All invitations for the Secretary's time for conferences, events, or meetings must come in writing. Requests must be emailed to scheduling@hhs.gov.
You can help us process your request by providing as much information as possible in your invitation. For all requests, please include:
- Name
- Mailing address
- Phone and email for the event contact person
- Specific topic of the meeting
- Who will attend the meeting
- Dates for the meeting
- Any other information about the meeting that may be helpful to us.
For conferences or events, please include the following details in your request:
- Date
- Time
- Location of the event
- Topic you would like the Secretary's speech to address
- Whether members of the press or media will attend
- number of people you expect will attend the conference or event
A letter confirming receipt of your request will be emailed to you. We will confirm or decline requests for the Secretary's attendance at a conference or event approximately one month to six weeks prior to the date of the event.
On April 28, 2009, Kathleen Sebelius was sworn in as the 21st Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. The Secretary leads national efforts to protect the health of all Americans and provide essential human services to those in need. She manages the largest civilian department in the federal government, with more than 67,000 employees and a budget that accounts for almost one out of every four Federal dollars.
Learn more about the Secretary: http://www.hhs.gov/secretary/
Secretaries of HEW:
- Oveta Culp Hobby, April 11, 1953 - July 31, 1955
- Marion B. Folsom, August 1, 1955 - July 31, 1958
- Arthur S. Flemming, August 1, 1958 - January 19, 1961
- Abraham Ribicoff, January 21, 1961 - July 13, 1962
- Anthony J. Celebrezze, July 31, 1962 - August 17, 1965
- John W. Gardner, August 18, 1965 - March 1, 1968
- Wilbur J. Cohen, May 16, 1968 - January 20, 1969
- Robert H. Finch, January 21, 1969 - June 23, 1970
- Elliot L. Richardson, June 24, 1970 - January 29, 1973
- Caspar W. Weinberger, February 12, 1973 - August 8, 1975
- David Mathews, August 8, 1975 - January 20, 1977
- Joseph A. Califano, Jr., January 25, 1977 - August 3, 1979
- Patricia Roberts Harris, August 3, 1979 - May 3, 1980
Secretaries of HHS:
- Patricia Roberts Harris, May 4, 1980 - January 20, 1981
- Richard S. Schweiker, January 22, 1981 - February 3, 1983
- Margaret M. Heckler, March 9, 1983 - December 13, 1985
- Otis R. Bowen, M.D., December 13, 1985 - January 20, 1989
- Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., March 1, 1989 - January 20, 1993
- Donna E. Shalala, January 22, 1993 - January 20, 2001
- Tommy G. Thompson, February 2, 2001 - January 26, 2005
- Michael O. Leavitt, January 26, 2005 - January 20, 2009
- Kathleen Sebelius, April 28, 2009 to Present
You may submit your request at any time before the date you wish to meet with the Secretary, or before the conference or event. Requests for events on a date certain will be reviewed starting eight to ten weeks prior to the event. We will confirm or decline requests approximately one month to six weeks prior to the date of the event.
The HHS Secretary, in addition to announcing initiatives through news conferences and press releases, frequently addresses national health and human service organizations, associations and professional groups. You may obtain a copy of the Secretary's remarks at:
- Speeches: http://www.hhs.gov/secretary/about/speeches/index.html
- Congressional Testimony: http://www.hhs.gov/secretary/about/testimony/index.html
- OpEds: http://www.hhs.gov/secretary/about/opeds/index.html
You should not include the Secretary's name or title in any materials until we confirm the Secretary's attendance. You also should not list the Secretary as "invited" until we confirm the Secretary's attendance.
