Summary

King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Ed Murray today thanked the Metropolitan King County Council and Seattle City Council for confirming their appointee for director of Public Health – Seattle & King County. Patty Hayes has served as Interim Director since August 2014.

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King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Ed Murray today thanked the Metropolitan King County Council and Seattle City Council for confirming their appointee for director of Public Health – Seattle & King County. Patty Hayes has served as Interim Director since August 2014.

“Families throughout King County are healthier thanks to the leadership and dedication that Patty Hayes brings, and I am grateful to have her on our team,” said Executive Constantine. “Her commitment to eliminating health disparities is at the heart of our work for equity and social justice. I thank the councils for confirming her.”

“Patty brings the right leadership experience and social justice ethic to her new role,” said Mayor Ed Murray. “The challenges are great – access to nutrition, infectious disease, addiction and mental illness. I know that Patty is ready to push innovative best practices to address these community priorities.”

"It’s an honor to serve as Director, especially at such an exciting time for our public’s health,” said Hayes. "How we think about and deliver health improvements in communities is rapidly changing. I look forward to building even stronger partnerships within the health and human service community and across sectors to innovate for everyone’s better health.”

Executive Constantine selected Hayes as the co-leader of the development team for Best Starts for Kids, his initiative to invest in prevention and early intervention strategies that reduce negative outcomes in the community, including mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence, homelessness and incarceration.

Before Hayes joined Public Health in 2012, she served as the Executive Director of WithinReach, a statewide nonprofit organization that connects families to food and health resources. She also held leadership positions at the Washington State Department of Health, including Assistant Secretary of Health for Community & Family Health and Director of Legislative, Policy and Constituent Relations.

Earlier this year, Hayes received the Cynthia F. Shurtleff Award, a statewide honor that recognizes extraordinary leadership and dedication to the health and well-being of women, children, and families in Washington. In 2014, she received the Heroine of Health Care award from the Center of Women and Democracy. She earned nursing and master degrees from the University of Washington's School of Nursing and was inducted into the Washington Nursing Hall of Fame in 2002.

Public Health protects and improves the health and well-being of the two million residents of Seattle and King County residents through disease protection, health promotion, and assurance of quality healthcare services. Its 1,300 employees deliver a wide range of services, including environmental health services, emergency medical services, maternal child services, healthcare for the homeless and incarcerated, disease investigation and other services that serve all communities in King County.

The City of Seattle provides more than $14 million each year to support Public Health - Seattle & King County. In this year's budget, Seattle provided an additional $400,000 to offset cuts in maternity, women, infant and children, and family planning services; HIV/STD education; and outreach to support new Medicaid enrollments. Seattle will also contribute $1 million for the redevelopment of the North Public Health Center.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Frank Abe, Executive Office, 206-263-9609