In nominating Sylvia Mathews Burwell, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, as his next HHS secretary, President Barack Obama has chosen someone recognized by insiders on both sides of the political aisle as an effective manager who is unlikely to become snagged in the politics of Obamacare.
Her lack of direct experience in healthcare has caused some to question her qualifications for the job. But many observers and former colleagues say her management expertise and low-profile style make her a perfect fit.
“She's someone who naturally doesn't seek the limelight—her focus was always on policy, not her public profile,” said Michael Feldman, who was a senior adviser to Vice President Al Gore. Feldman has interacted with Burwell frequently, especially during her stint as President Bill Clinton's deputy chief of staff.
Douglas Smith, a former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and another alumnus of the Clinton administration, similarly recalled Burwell as a “highly competent professional who never looked for headlines, but was someone always looking for solutions.”
