Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell promoted HHS Chief of Staff Andrea Palm to a Senior Counselor, in order to further strengthen the HHS management team and help the agency fulfill its mission to better serve the American people.
Andrea has been a key part of the HHS team since the beginning of the Obama Administration, and brings more than 15 years of experience working on health care, public health and human services issues to this new position. Andrea has served in a number of senior-level HHS positions, including Acting Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Counselor to the Secretary for Public Health and Science, and has deep knowledge of the Department and its many partners.
At HHS, she has helped the Department tackle critical issues including responding to H1N1, modernizing our food safety system, implementing the Affordable Care Act, and ensuring a successful first open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace. Throughout her time in the Administration, she has demonstrated her ability to find solutions to complex issues and deliver impact for the American people.
“Andrea has been an important asset to me, HHS and this Administration, and will remain a key part of my management team,” said Secretary Burwell. “We’re continuing to build a strong team, and that includes retaining top talent. I am pleased that she has agreed to take on this new role, working on issues that touch the lives of millions of Americans every day.”
As Senior Counselor, Palm will work closely with the Department’s senior staff and external partners on a wide range of cross-cutting issues, including key strategic initiatives, and creating health care and human service delivery systems that give Americans the building blocks they need to lead healthy and productive lives.
Palm has served as Chief of Staff since May of 2013. In addition to her time at HHS, she served on White House Domestic Policy Council. Prior to joining the Administration, Palm was the Senior Health Policy Advisor to former Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, working on health IT and biosimilars legislation.
Palm will continue to report directly to the Secretary.
