Cari Medina, 1199SEIU executive vice president in Massachusetts, issued the following statement on the departure of Kate Walsh as Secretary of The Executive Office of Health and Human Services and Dr. Kiame Mahaniah assuming the role:

"We want to thank Secretary Walsh for her years of partnership with healthcare workers across the state. From her role shepherding Boston Medical Center through the COVID-19 pandemic, to her work helping Massachusetts weather the Steward Health Care bankruptcy, she has served as a thoughtful, composed leader during times of crisis and fear. Whether working together to protect our patients, or sitting on opposite sides of the bargaining table, Secretary Walsh always treated healthcare workers with respect, and we wish her the best as she enters a new chapter." 

"We also want to congratulate Dr. Kiame Mahaniah on his new role as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Dr. Mahaniah is a proven health equity leader who deeply understands the needs of healthcare workers because he always starts by listening. As CEO of the Lynn Community Health Center, he centered patients and the workers who care for them, improving the quality of care by ensuring that healthcare workers were supported in doing their jobs. As Undersecretary of Health and Human Services, he has brought his years of experience as a physician to bear on the many challenges facing Massachusetts patients and was integral in raising the Personal Care Attendant program and the PCA workforce to the next level by raising wages and actively engaging all stakeholders. He is the leader that our state's healthcare system needs as we face the threat of major Medicaid cuts amid a healthcare workforce crisis that is overburdening our entire health system. We look forward to working with Secretary Mahaniah in the coming years to preserve access to the high-quality healthcare Massachusetts is known for and that the Commonwealth’s residents deserve."