Biden appoints Philly’s Dr. Ala Stanford to lead regional Health and Human Services office

Mark Eichmann, Alan Yu WHYY 17 hrs ago



Dr. Ala Stanford reflected on 2 years of the Black Doctors Consortium’s efforts to give health care to undeserved Philadelphians at a press conference announcing $3 million in funding for the organization from Community Project Funding on Monday. — WHYY Photos/Kimberly Paynter



In October, Dr. Ala Stanford withdrew her name from consideration to be Philadelphia’s next health commissioner. Now, about six months later, she’s been named to an even more prominent position. President Biden has appointed Stanford to lead the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Region 3 office, which covers all of Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The appointment announcement highlighted Stanford’s work in founding the Black Doctors Consortium in Philadelphia, which made major strides in addressing racial disparities in health care since the start of the pandemic. According to a statement from the White House, Stanford and the other appointees announced today are “consistent with the President’s commitment to building an administration that looks like America, these regional appointees represent the diversity of America and the communities they serve.”

A pediatric surgeon by trade, Stanford led the consortium in making house calls and operating COVID-19 testing sites. When the first COVID-19 vaccines arrived last year, the group ran vaccine clinics, including a 24-hour site at the Liacouras Center at Temple University. They vaccinated thousands of people at that one site.

For a time, she was in the running to be Philadelphia’s health commissioner when the previous health commissioner, Dr. Thomas Farley resigned in May after he admitted to ordering the cremation and disposal of remains of some of the victims of the 1985 MOVE bombing in 2017, without notifying the victims’ family members. She withdrew herself from consideration because she opened a new primary care and behavioral health clinic in North Philadelphia last October, the Ala Stanford Center for Health Equity. She said she was worried her work at the clinic might create conflicts of interest with a potential role as health commissioner.

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https://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/biden-appoints-philly-s-dr-ala-stanford-to-lead-regional-health-and-human-services-office/article_fa4fde01-ced7-587a-999e-6fc3365c49da.html

President Biden Announces Key Regional Appointments for HHS

April 26, 2022 • Statements and Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, President Joe Biden appointed the following individuals to serve in key regional leadership roles at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):

Ala Stanford, HHS Regional Director, Region 3

Antrell Tyson, HHS Regional Director, Region 4

Janine Boyd, HHS Regional Director, Region 5

These regional appointees will be critical to the President’s efforts to rebuild communities most impacted by the pandemic, the economic recovery, and climate change. They bring deep expertise in their issue areas as well as critical relationships with federal, state, tribal, and local leaders. And, consistent with the President’s commitment to building an administration that looks like America, these regional appointees represent the diversity of America and the communities they serve.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS)

Regional Directors lead HHS’s 10 Regional Offices that directly serve state and local organizations. Regional Directors ensure the Department maintains close contact with state, local, and tribal partners and addresses the needs of communities and individuals served through HHS programs and policies.

Ala Stanford, HHS Regional Director, Region 3

Dr. Ala Stanford, a practicing physician for over 20 years, is board certified by the American Board of Surgery in both pediatric and adult general surgery and a health care advocate. She is the Founder of The Black Doctors COVID19 Consortium (BDCC). The consortium was formed in response to the disproportionate number of African Americans being diagnosed and dying from coronavirus in Philadelphia, PA and the lack of swift intervention to mitigate disease spread. The mission of the consortium is to educate, provide advocacy and barrier free coronavirus testing and coronavirus vaccination in an effort to decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. Her research in basic science, clinical research, and public health have been published in peer reviewed medical journals. Stanford also serves as a medical correspondent for local and national news outlets. She is the former director of the Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities of Temple University School of Medicine, and serves on the CDC Philadelphia Department of Public Health COVID19 Vaccine Advisory Committee. Stanford has received many accolades, notably being named a 2021 Top 10 CNN Hero and 2021 George H.W. Bush Points of Light Award recipient.

Region 3 serves Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

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https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/04/26/president-biden-announces-key-regional-appointments-for-hhs/

Ala Stanford MD
@alastanford
Thank you everyone for the well wishes and support. Humbled to serve and represent @hhsregion3
Ala Stanford MD
@alastanford
@WhiteHouse announced President Biden @POTUS appointed Dr. @AlaStanford, Regional Director, @hhsregion3 of Dept. of Health & Human Services. Representing Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, WVirginia, Maryland & Washington DC, continuing to work for the BEST health outcomes for all
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6:09 AM · Apr 27, 2022