Alex Azar - Speaker

Alex Azar is an American attorney, businessman, lobbyist, and former pharmaceutical executive. He served as the 24th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from 2018 to 2021. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in government and economics from Dartmouth College and earned a law degree from Yale University. Azar began his career as a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. He then worked as an associate independent counsel for Ken Starr, focusing on the Whitewater investigation. He joined the law firm Wiley Rein and became a partner. In 2001, Azar was confirmed as General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where he responded to the 2001 anthrax attacks and managed public health crises. He was appointed Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services in 2005, overseeing a large agency budget. From 2007 to 2017, Azar held various positions at Eli Lilly and Company, including senior vice president and president of Lilly USA. In 2018, he was appointed Secretary of Health and Human Services by President Donald Trump, serving until January 2021. His tenure included initiatives to ban flavored e-cigarettes, reduce youth tobacco use, and address maternal mortality. He also chaired the White House Coronavirus Task Force during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. After leaving office, Azar became a senior executive in residence at the Miami Herbert Business School. He has advocated for patient ownership of health information, price transparency in healthcare, and addressing social determinants of health. Azar opposes abortion and has expressed a desire to improve the Affordable Care Act while acknowledging its challenges. His career reflects a commitment to healthcare policy and public health leadership.