MALLOY NAMES JEANNETTE DEJESÚS DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF DPH, SPECIAL ADVISOR TO THE GOVERNOR ON HEALTHCARE REFORM

January 4, 2011

(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor-Elect Dan Malloy today announced that Jeannette DeJesús will join his administration in a cabinet-level position, as both the Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Public Health and Special Advisor to the Governor on Healthcare Reform. DeJesús is currently the Vice President of the Connecticut Hospital Association, where she has led advocacy efforts and helped to develop effective strategies for implementing national healthcare reform, particularly with regard to special populations.
Prior to her time there, DeJesús spent eight years as the President and CEO of the Hispanic Health Council.

"We won't be able to create new jobs or keep the ones we have until we address the rising cost of healthcare in a serious way," said Governor-Elect Malloy. "I'm looking to Jeannette to make sense of the federal healthcare reform legislation and find smart, strategic ways to implement it here in Connecticut to increase affordability and access."

"I'm excited to begin this new chapter in my career, and I'm honored to have Governor-Elect Malloy's confidence," said DeJesús. "We need to make sure that everyone - individuals, small companies and large corporations - know and understand the new rules and regulations and we need to make sure we're implementing the new law to help increase access and affordability for Connecticut residents. I'm looking forward to working with Governor-Elect Malloy and his team on these and other issues."

Prior to her time at CHA and the Hispanic Health Council, DeJesús was the Deputy Executive Director and the Executive Vice President of the National Conference for Community and Justice. From 1995-1999, she was the program coordinator at St. Vincent's Hospital's rape crisis program in New York City. DeJesús has co-chaired the Sustinet Tobacco Task Force and the Commission on Health Equity. She has also served on the boards of Hartford Hospital, Hartford Health Care Corporation, Connecticut Voices for Children and the Public Health Foundation of Connecticut. DeJesús graduated from the College of St. Elizabeth and has a Masters in Social Work from New York University, as well as a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University.

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