Last year this time, Kathleen Sebelius was appointed by President Obama as his Secretary of Health & Human Services. While the former Kansas governor’s style was been unassuming yet administratively effective, her appointment has not been without its challenges. In the midst of the H1N1 virus crisis her ascension came during increased scrutiny of Obama’s ability to apply a sort of brain trust to his cabinet’s inner workings. Doctor Pundit noted an op-ed in the NYT a year ago which conveyed this issue.

So, how will the Obama administration be judged on his response to the 2009 swine flu crisis? Without stable CDC and HHS appointments, it will be an interesting case study in the bridge between his First 100 Days and the meat of his remaining (first) term.

Stunned by the embarrassment over the presumptive and “inevitable” appointment of his initial choice to that position, former South Dakota senator, Tom Daschle; Obama’s approach to filling the position benefited him on a couple of fronts:  the choice of Sebelius would be a prudent one, based upon leadership skill rather than implied cronyism, and Sebelius’s appointment was a fulfillment of the career boost she needed — as her inclusion on Obama’s short list for VP fell to former Delaware Senator Joe Biden.

If anything, Sebelius has been a fairly effective steward of Obama’s administrative goals with respect to healthcare reform. Most recently, she has had to tangle with Big Insurance in the aftermath of the reform bill’s passage — asking them to explain massive premium hikes in the wake of beneficiaries’ plummeting access to care amid lower wages and layoffs. Evolving in her role as government spokeswoman for calm during the H1N1 crisis to her current perception as Obama’s domestic healthcare reform ambassador, she continues to meet those challenges head-on.

Related Posts Within Doctor Pundit:

1. White House: Sebelius Is HHS Secretary Pick With no tax issues to speak of, she’s a shoo-in....
2. Senate Committee Confirms Sebelius as HHS Nominee The Senate finance committee has approved Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius’...
3. Sebelius: Public Option Now Not ‘Essential’ Is the public option dead? It appears as much. With...
4. Obama Slightly Shifts Tone on Reform Costs; Sebelius Continues PR Assault on Insurance As the midterm election season plows on in full force,...
5. During Recent Mass. Visit, Sebelius’s Words Get Sharp Rebukes Due to the recent attempt on the life of a...