7/23/13 Howard Koh, Top APA at US Health Agency | Asian Fortune
Tuesday , July 23 2013 About Us Advertise Write for Us » Contact Our Team In Print Search...
News + Opinion » Business Life Travel Entertainment » Profiles Photo + Video Blogs Jobs Events
You are here: Home / Profiles / Howard Koh, Top APA at US Health Agency
Howard Koh, Top APA At US Health Agency
Posted by: Jennie Ilustre on July 20, 2013 in Profiles Leave a comment
[ A+ ] /[ A- ] Blogs
Dr. Howard Koh’s title, and the responsibilities that go with it, are formidable. He is the Assistant Secretary Mulberry Stories: Conversations Between An American Daughter And for Health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Her Mother [BLOG] July 15, 2013 “The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health oversees 12 core public health offices,” he said in an email. “Our broad portfolio includes disease prevention and health promotion, health disparities, women’s Race Talk: Asian American as a health, adolescent health, minority health, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, vaccine programs, fitness, sports and Political Identity [BLOG] nutrition, bioethics, research integrity and human research protections.” July 5, 2013 Those who know Dr. Koh, however, would be the first to say that he’s equal to the task. Early in life, he learned about the value of education and serving others from his parents. The Greeks have a similar Youth Voices: Growing Up as a wisdom to impart, defining happiness as “the full use of one’s powers along the lines of excellence in a life Chinese American [BLOG] affording scope.” June 15, 2013
Youth Voices: Does Tiger Parenting Work? [BLOG] June 14, 2013
Flavors of Asia: The Spice of Asian Cuisine [BLOG] June 3, 2013
Popular Recent Comments Tags
Mulberry Stories: Conversations Between an American Daughter and Her Mother [BLOG] April 22, 2013 Jeff Caballero, AAPCHO executive director and Hep B United co-chair; Joan Block, Hepatitis B Foundation executive director and Hep B United co-chair; Managing the Mind: Raja Yoga Dr. Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary for Health for the U.S. Department of Meditation Practitioners Differ in Health and Human Services; Dr. John Ward, Director of the Division of Viral Approaches to Calming Mind Hepatitis at the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB April 7, 2013 Prevention (NCHHSTP) for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Asian Investors Eye DC Real Estate April 7, 2013
Dr. Koh said, “Our parents were Korean immigrants who journeyed to this country searching for the American Dream. They sacrificed so that we six children all could enjoy outstanding education.” More Attention to Tibet Needed May 6, 2013 “But they also stressed that education alone was not enough,” he added. “They wanted us to live lives of service and higher purpose. They taught us that anything worth doing requires perseverance and a sense Ayurveda: India’s Oldest Healing Method www.asianfortunenews.com/2013/07/howard-koh-top-apa-at-us-health-agency/ 1/4 7/23/13 Howard Koh, Top APA at US Health Agency | Asian Fortune
of mission.” July 9, 2013 Not too long ago, he and his brother Harold, who was then Legal Adviser of the US State Department, probably set a record. There they were, two brothers occupying top policy positions in the federal government. At a reception for new members of the US Congress, hosted by the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), the two brothers regaled the audience with an inside family joke, ribbing each other on why one ended up as a doctor and the other a lawyer. Never Miss Out It was reassuring to see officials who did not let their position go to their heads, deftly balancing gravitas with levity, and also honoring their roots as they achieve the American Dream. Subscribe to our email newsletter.
Public Service Enter your email address
Dr. Koh and his team are on top of health programs promoting the well-being of all Americans, including Subscribe minorities. Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), joined by Hep B United, a national coalition with 16 local affiliates, launched the first-ever multilingual campaign for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs), to increase testing for hepatitis B among this population across the country. Social The “Know Hepatitis B” public information campaign materials include online and print ads, social media, and professional education literature. These will be available in English, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese. Even though they make up only about 4 per cent of the nation’s population, Asian Americans account for over half of the 1.2 million Americans estimated to be living with chronic hepatitis B. They have the highest rate of liver cancer among all racial and ethnic groups. Tags
Jeffrey Caballero is the executive director of the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health 2013 activist asian american Organizations (AAPCHO), and also co-chair of Hep B United. He knows about Dr. Koh’s dedication from asian americans asian liaison unit automobiles years of working with him as a community partner. barack obama business car chick cars celebration children china Reached in San Francisco, California, he paid tribute to Dr. Koh: “We commend Dr. Koh for his leadership chinatown Chinatown Community and commitment to eliminating hepatitis B and to improving the health of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.” Cultural Center chinese community He added: “His continued leadership on improving the coordination of viral hepatitis activities across HHS, congress dream act hawaii health hidden in partnership with state and local partners, has had a positive impact on our efforts to reduce the impact menus immigrants immigration of this disease on vulnerable populations across the country and has helped move us closer to ending Inaugur-Asian Coverage this hidden epidemic.” interview lily qi maryland New Year new
According to recent studies, aside from Hepatitis B, there are other top health-related issues facing Asian york obama President Obama American and Pacific Islanders. qulturematters restaurant san francisco students Diabetes, especially Type 2 diabetes, is a growing problem. Likewise, many Asian Americans have difficulty theater theatre undocumented immigrants in accessing culturally competent care, especially for those who speak limited, or even no English. united states veterans virginia About 18 percent of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders do not have health insurance. The higher rates of the uninsured include Korean and Vietnamese Americans. washington washington
DC wheels The federal website notes that the Affordable Care Act, now part of the laws of the land, will enable 97,000 more Asian Americans and Pacific Islander children gain health coverage: They can now stay on their parents’ plans until age 26. to search type and hit enter
Under the new law, about 3.8 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with private insurance have also gained expanded coverage of free preventive care, such as mammograms and diabetes screenings.
About Dr. Koh
The website notes that Dr. Koh serves as the 14th Assistant Secretary for Health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), after being nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2009.
His mission: To create better public health systems for prevention and care so that all Americans can www.asianfortunenews.com/2013/07/howard-koh-top-apa-at-us-health-agency/ 2/4 7/23/13 Howard Koh, Top APA at US Health Agency | Asian Fortune
attain the highest possible standard of health. Previously, Dr. Koh served as Commissioner of Public Health for Massachusetts (1997-2003). As Commissioner, he led the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, which included a wide range of health services, four hospitals, and a staff of more than 3,000 professionals. In this post, he underscored the power of prevention. He also strengthened the state’s commitment to eliminating health disparities.
He served as the Harvey V. Fineberg Professor of the Practice of Public Health and Associate Dean for Public Health Practice at the Harvard School of Public Health. He was also the Director of the Harvard School of Public Health Center for Public Health Preparedness.
Dr. Koh graduated from Yale College, where he was President of the Yale Glee Club, and the Yale University School of Medicine. He completed postgraduate training at Boston City Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. He served as chief resident in both hospitals.
He has board certification in four medical fields: internal medicine, hematology, medical oncology, and dermatology. He also earned a Master of Public Health degree from Boston University. At Boston University Schools of Medicine and Public Health, he was Professor of Dermatology, Medicine and Public Health, as well as Director of Cancer Prevention and Control. Dr. Koh and his wife, Dr. Claudia Arrigg, are the proud parents of three children.
Dr. Koh: In His Own Words
What is your typical day like? (There is no such thing, but give us an idea.) Every day, I do everything I can to further our public health mission. That means, every day is varied and unpredictable!
Our broad portfolio includes disease prevention and health promotion; health disparities; women’s health; adolescent health; minority health; HIV/AIDS; hepatitis; vaccine programs; fitness, sports and nutrition; bioethics; research integrity and human research protections.
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health oversees 12 core public health offices, including the Office of the Surgeon General and the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, 10 Regional Health Offices across the nation, and 10 Presidential and Secretarial advisory committees.
So through daily efforts in planning, collaboration, outreach, we work to reach goals to make our country healthier. Each day, we work to make public health stronger than it was the day before.
Who are your role models? People who have inspired and influenced you? My father will always be a hero to me. He urged us to be “broad like the sky” and live a life filled with purpose. My mother has also been a wonderful ongoing source of strength and courage.
Yale Chaplain Reverend William Sloane Coffin inspired me to take a broader societal view on life and to stand for something. He urged us to discover why we were put on this earth and to care particularly for those that “society counted least and put last.”
What are your hobbies? I enjoy singing and music, dating back to the days I served as president of the Yale Glee Club. My old conductor used to say, “There is too much talking in the world and not enough singing.” I agree! I am often called upon to play the guitar and sing at family birthday parties.
I also enjoy physical fitness activities and am a diehard Boston Red Sox fan–there are many of us in Washington, D.C.! I have had the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch on two different occasions: at Nationals Park in Washington D.C. on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services (2011), and at Fenway Park, as part of being designated a “Medical All Star” by the Boston Red Sox (2003). Unforgettable experiences!
Asian Fortune is an English language newspaper for Asian American professionals in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Visit fb.com/asianfortune to stay up to date with our news and what’s going on in the Asian American community. 590 total views, 68 views today www.asianfortunenews.com/2013/07/howard-koh-top-apa-at-us-health-agency/ 3/4 7/23/13 Howard Koh, Top APA at US Health Agency | Asian Fortune Comments
0 comments
Add a comment...
Post to Facebook Posting as Beverly Quintana Comment
(Change)
Facebook social plugin
Share ! Tweet 1 Like 26 0 StumbleUponSharre
Tagged with: AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
CONGRESSIONAL ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN CAUCUS HEPATITIS HIV/AIDS HOWARD KOH INTERVIEW JEFF CABALLERO
Q&A
About Jennie Ilustre
Previous: Next: Stay and Sip Awhile: The Medicinal Translating Cultural Diversity into « Properties of Tea Global Opportunities » Related Articles
Immigration Reform Cancer Among Asian CAPAC: Reuniting Families Coalition Vows to Keep Americans Crucial to Large-Scale Fighting to Reunite Families July 14, 2013 Immigration Reform July 16, 2013 June 23, 2013
Comments are closed.
Sponsors and Partners
© Copyright 2013 Asian Fortune, All Rights Reserved.
www.asianfortunenews.com/2013/07/howard-koh-top-apa-at-us-health-agency/ 4/4