Tennessean Tapped To Lead Health Care Reform

<b></b>Copyright 2009 Chattanooga Publishing Company Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee) <br> <br> <b></b><span id="x_hitDiv1">March 3, 2009 Tuesday <br> <br> <b>SECTION: </b>WIRE - POLITICS; Pg. 0 <br> <br> <b>LENGTH: </b>269 words <br> <br> <br> <b>HEADLINE: </b>Tennessean tapped to lead health care reform<br> <br> <p></p> Staff and Wire Reports <p></p> In naming his national health care team, President Barack Obama has named a Rockwood, Tenn., native to serve as director of the White House Office for Health Reform. <p></p> Though Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will be the public face as secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services, Nancy-Ann DeParle will be guiding many of Mr. Obama's new policy moves. <p></p> Former colleagues said Ms. DeParle's elevation to a White House position comes after many years of distinguished public service. <p></p> Chattanooga attorney James Hall got to know Ms. DeParle through Democratic political circles. <p></p> He called her appointment a proud moment in Tennessee and for the University of Tennessee, where Ms. DeParle was the first female student body president. <p></p> "Obviously, she's extremely intelligent and she's a good listener and she's a very humble person," he said. "I've known her for long period of time and she's a wonderful leader and she's a wonderful mother and just outstanding." <p></p> From 1987 to 1989, Ms. DeParle was commissioner of the Department of Human Services in Tennessee under Gov. Ned McWherter. <p></p> From 1993 to 1997, she was chosen by President Bill Clinton to serve as associate director for Health and Personnel at the White House Office of Management and Budget. <p></p> Nashville lawyer J.W. Luna also knew Ms. DeParle at UT. They also both served in Cabinet positions during the McWherter administration. <p>< admin</p> "I was really ecstatic to hear she was appointed," Mr. Luna said. "She's a fantastic person, a really brilliant mind who has a deep calling to public service." <p></p> The <span id="x_hitDiv2">Associated <span id="x_hitDiv2">Press contributed to this report. <br> <br> <b>LOAD-DATE: </b>March 5, 2009 <br> <br> <div> <div class="x_nshr"> <center></center> <center><a href="http://www.lexis-nexis.com/lncc/about/copyrt.html" target="_new" class="x_pagelinks">Copyright © 2009 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved. </a><br> <a href="http://www.lexis-nexis.com/terms/general" target="_new" class="x_pagelinks">Terms and Conditions</a> <a href="http://www.lexis-nexis.com/terms/privacy" target="_new" class="x_pagelinks"> Privacy Policy</a> <br> </center> </div> </div> </span></span></span>