Sylvia Burwell

Sylvia Burwell is a renowned American government official who served as the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services from 2014 to 2017, under the administration of President Barack Obama. She was nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate with a vote of 78-17, with the support of Senator Mitch McConnell and Senator Harry Reid. Prior to her role as Secretary, Burwell worked at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation, and the Office of Management and Budget under President Bill Clinton. Her experience also includes working with Jack Lew and Jacob Lew at the Office of Management and Budget.

● Early Life and Education

Sylvia Burwell was born in Hinton, West Virginia, and grew up in Miami, Florida, and Beckley, West Virginia. She attended Williamstown Elementary School and Park Middle School in Beckley, West Virginia, before moving to Washington, D.C. to attend Woodrow Wilson High School. Burwell graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Government, where she was a member of the Institute of Politics at Harvard University and worked with David Gergen and Graham Allison. She also attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, where she studied at St Anne's College, Oxford and was influenced by the work of Nelson Mandela and Tony Blair.

● Career

Before entering public service, Burwell worked at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as the Chief Operating Officer and the Executive Director of the Global Development Program, where she worked with Bill Gates and Melinda Gates to develop programs focused on Global Health and Poverty Reduction. She also worked at the Walton Family Foundation as the President and the Chief Executive Officer, where she collaborated with Robson Walton and Jim Walton to support Education Reform and Environmental Conservation initiatives. Additionally, Burwell served as the Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Bill Clinton, where she worked with Leon Panetta and Alice Rivlin to develop the Federal Budget.

● Secretary of Health and Human Services

As the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, Burwell played a crucial role in implementing the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010. She worked closely with Kathleen Sebelius and Nancy Pelosi to develop and implement the law, which aimed to increase Health Insurance coverage for millions of Americans. Burwell also oversaw the response to the Ebola Outbreak in 2014, working with Tom Frieden and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop a comprehensive response plan. Furthermore, she collaborated with Anthony Fauci and the National Institutes of Health to advance Medical Research and develop new treatments for diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Cancer.

● Post-Government Career

After leaving her position as Secretary, Burwell became the President of the American University in Washington, D.C., where she succeeded Neil Kerwin and worked with the American University Board of Trustees to develop new academic programs and initiatives. She has also served on the boards of several organizations, including the Council on Foreign Relations, the Trilateral Commission, and the National Academy of Medicine, where she has worked with David Rockefeller and Henry Kissinger to promote Global Health and International Cooperation. Additionally, Burwell has been a member of the Bipartisan Policy Center and the National Coalition on Health Care, where she has collaborated with Tom Daschle and Bob Dole to develop bipartisan solutions to Health Care challenges.

● Personal Life

Sylvia Burwell is married to Stephen Burwell, and they have two children together. She is a member of the Episcopal Church and has served on the board of the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.. Burwell has received numerous awards and honors for her public service, including the Presidential Rank Award and the National Academy of Public Administration's National Public Service Award, which she received from President Barack Obama and Senator Susan Collins. She has also been recognized by Forbes as one of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women, alongside Angela Merkel and Melinda Gates.