Mary C. Selecky has served as Secretary of the Washington State Department of Health since March 1999, serving under Governor Chris Gregoire and former Governor Gary Locke.  Prior to working for the state, Mary had 20-year tenure as administrator of the Northeast Tri-County Health District in Colville, Washington.  Coming from one of Washington’s most rural areas, Mary is keenly aware of the unique challenges facing rural communities.

Throughout her career, Mary has been a leader in developing local, state and national public health policies.  She is a past president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, receiving the 2004 McCormack Award for excellence in public health, and is a past president of the Washington State Association of Local Public Health Officials.  Mary served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of City and County Health Officials.

In 1989, Mary helped create the state’s Department of Health, which she now leads.  She was also instrumental in developing Washington’s nationally recognized Public Health Improvement Partnership.

On a statewide level, Mary has made tobacco prevention and control, patient safety, nutrition and physical activity, and emergency preparedness her top priorities.  Mary is known for bringing people and organizations together to improve the public health system and the health of people in Washington.  Mary graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in political science and history, and has been a resident of Washington for 33 years.