Howard Koh, Top APA at US Health Agency

Dr. Howard Koh’s title, and the responsibilities that go with it, are formidable. He is the Assistant Secretary for Health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“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 health, adolescent health, minority health, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, vaccine programs, fitness, sports and nutrition, bioethics, research integrity and human research protections.”
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 wisdom to impart, defining happiness as “the full use of one’s powers along the lines of excellence in a life affording scope.”

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.”

“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 of mission.”
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.
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.

Public Service

Dr. Koh and his team are on top of health programs promoting the well-being of all Americans, including 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.
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.

Jeffrey Caballero is the executive director of the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO), and also co-chair of Hep B United. He knows about Dr. Koh’s dedication from years of working with him as a community partner.

Reached in San Francisco, California, he paid tribute to Dr. Koh: “We commend Dr. Koh for his leadership and commitment to eliminating hepatitis B and to improving the health of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.”
He added: “His continued leadership on improving the coordination of viral hepatitis activities across HHS, in partnership with state and local partners, has had a positive impact on our efforts to reduce the impact of this disease on vulnerable populations across the country and has helped move us closer to ending this hidden epidemic.”

According to recent studies, aside from Hepatitis B, there are other top health-related issues facing Asian American and Pacific Islanders.
Diabetes, especially Type 2 diabetes, is a growing problem. Likewise, many Asian Americans have difficulty in accessing culturally competent care, especially for those who speak limited, or even no English.
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.

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.

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 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!