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Rx2000 Institute
11824 Wayzata Blvd
Minneapolis, MN 55305
Phone: 952-595-9551
FAX: 952-513-1544

BIO

Kevin L. Thurm was the  Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services from August 30, 1996 - 2000. HHS is the federal government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves. The Department includes more than 300 programs, covering a wide spectrum of activities, including medical and social science research, preventing outbreak of infectious disease, assuring food and drug safety, Medicare and Medicaid, financial assistance for low-income families, Head Start, substance abuse treatment and prevention and services for older Americans. The Department's budget in Fiscal Year 2000 was $387 billion.

As Deputy Secretary, Mr. Thurm worked closely with HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala on all major policy and management issues while also serving as the Department's Chief Operating Officer. Additionally, Mr. Thurm chaired the HHS Union-Management Partnership Council and lead several Departmental initiatives, including the implementation of the Government Performance Results Act and the National Organ and Tissue Donation Initiative. He also chaired the Department's Minority Initiatives Steering Committee.

The Deputy Secretary also helped to lead some major cost-cutting federal initiatives. He serveed as the HHS representative on the President's Management Council. He has chaired the Health Care sector of the President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion, leading successful efforts across health-related agencies to ensure all medical facilities and devices were prepared for the January 1, 2000 rollover.

Beginning in January 1993, Mr. Thurm served as HHS Chief of Staff. In addition to coordinating HHS activities and issues and serving as a principal advisor to Secretary Shalala, Mr. Thurm served as the central point of liaison between the Department and the White House. As the Department's Regulatory Policy Officer, he played a key role in setting the Department's regulatory agenda, reviewing all regulations issued by the Secretary.

Mr. Thurm is a former Rhodes Scholar. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tufts University in 1983, B.A. and M.A. degrees from Oxford University in 1986 and a J.D. degree from Harvard Law School in 1989.

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