See AzPHA’s Letter Supporting Dr. Cullen’s Confirmation

Governor Hobbs has nominated Dr. Theresa Cullen to serve as her Director for the Arizona Department of Health Services. Her confirmation hearing will be held on Thursday, February 9, 2023. We believe Dr. Cullen has precisely the right skill set, talent, motivation, and personality to lead the Department.

ADHS has a very diverse and complex mission, from the responsibility to ensure the health and safety Arizonans in thousands of licensed facilities, the stewards of millions of vital records like birth and death certificates, food assistance through the Women Infant and Children’s program, food safety, infectious and chronic disease epidemiology, running the Arizona State Hospital, and much more.

An agency with such a diverse and complex mission requires a leader with determination, curiosity and a commitment to evidence based public health policy. It also requires someone committed to recruiting, retaining, and training talented staff and building accountability within the organization at all levels.

We believe that Dr. Cullen is precisely the right person for the job.

With more than 27 years of public service experience, Dr. Cullen has consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic and a passion for accountability and fidelity to ethics. She has an impressive career path including having achieved the rank of Rear Admiral and Assistant U.S. Surgeon General.

Most recently, she has been serving as the Director of the Pima County Health Department, where she has become intimately familiar with ADHS’ mission – including first-hand experience identifying the agency’s strengths and weaknesses. That experience will be important in informing internal interventions to improve the agency’s effectiveness.

Her professional reputation is one of integrity, accountability, and commitment to evidence-based policy.

Arizona would be fortunate to have Dr. Cullen at the helm of the Arizona Department of Health Services and we urge you to confirm her nomination as Director.