[NYAPRS Enews] Gov. Paterson Elevates Whalen, Baker to Interim Top Posts

[Harvey Rosenthal]

NYAPRS Note: NYAPRS warmly welcomes today’s announcement of Dennis Whalen’s appointment as Interim Director of State Operations and Joe Baker’s advancement to Acting Deputy Secretary for Health and Human Services. Dennis and Joe’s strong commitment to ‘People First’ centered health and mental health care, to picking the strong dynamic team of mental hygiene agency commissioners we have  today, to open, responsive and transparent government and ongoing input from stakeholders, to polices that maximize choice and move away from forced treatment and to more spending on housing, the workforce, employment and other NYAPRS member priorities has been critical. We will only be even better served by their respective advancements. Congratulations to them both!

GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES ADMINISTRATION APPOINTMENTS


Governor David A. Paterson today announced that he will appoint Terryl Brown Clemons to serve as Acting Counsel, Dennis Whalen to serve as Interim Director of State Operations and Joe Baker to serve as Acting Deputy Secretary for Health and Human Services to the Governor. 

“I want to thank Terryl, Dennis and Joe for continuing to provide me with counsel, wisdom and guidance. All three individuals have already made enormous contributions to the success of this administration and I look forward to continuing to work closely with them to better the lives of all New Yorkers,” said Governor Paterson. “I am grateful that they have each agreed to take on new challenges in interim capacities.” 

Terryl Brown Clemons most recently served as First Assistant Counsel to the Governor. Ms. Brown Clemons was previously the Assistant Deputy Attorney General of the Division of Public Advocacy in the New York State Attorney General’s Office where she supervised approximately 160 attorneys and 220 other employees assigned to the following nine bureaus: Antitrust, Charities, Civil Rights, Consumer Frauds and Protection, Environmental Protection, Health Care, Internet, Investment Protection, and Telecommunications and Energy. 
From 2003 to 2004, Ms. Brown Clemons served as Acting Deputy Attorney General of the Division during the Director’s sabbatical. Prior to her appointment as Assistant Deputy Attorney General in 1998, Ms. Brown Clemons served as the Deputy Bureau Chief of the Civil Rights Bureau, and before that as an Assistant Attorney General in the Litigation Bureau. 
Previously, Ms. Brown Clemons worked in private practice and also overseas for the Dutch law firm, Nauta Dutilh. 
Ms. Brown Clemons received a B.A. from Pace University and a J.D. and MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. 
As Acting Counsel Terryl Brown Clemons will receive a salary of $178,000. 

Dennis P. Whalen was appointed Deputy Secretary to the Governor in January 2007.  Mr. Whalen is the chief health care advisor to the Governor and is responsible for policies and operations of the state’s health and human services agencies: Department of Health, Office of Mental Health, Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, Office of Children and Family Services, Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, Office for the Aging, Division of Veterans’ Affairs, Office of Medicaid Inspector General, Office of Welfare Inspector General, Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities, Council on Children and Families, and Developmental Disabilities Planning Council. 

Mr. Whalen previously served in the Department of Health as Executive Deputy Commissioner, Director of the Office of Health Systems Management, and Executive Deputy Director of the AIDS Institute.  He served in policymaking positions at the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, including Deputy Commissioner for Program Services.  He began his career in state government in 1974 as a Public Health Educator at the Department of Health. 
Mr. Whalen is a graduate of Marist College, and the National Preparedness Leadership Institute at the Kennedy School of Government. 
As Interim Director of State Operations Dennis Whalen will receive a salary of $178,000. 

 

Joe Baker most recently served as Assistant Deputy Secretary for Health and Human Services for Governor Paterson. Previously, he was Health Care Bureau Chief in the Office of the New York State Attorney General from 1991-2006.  As Bureau Chief, Joe supervised the investigation and prosecution of cases that addressed systemic problems in the operation of the health care system. 
From 1994 - 2001, Joe was Executive Vice President of Medicare Rights Center, which became one of the nation’s leading Medicare consumer organizations during his tenure.  From 1989-1994, Joe was the Associate Director of Legal Services for Gay Men's Health Crisis, the world's oldest and largest AIDS service, education and advocacy organization. 
He has served as a member of the Standards Committee and the Consumer Advisory Council of the National Committee for Quality Assurance, a Consumer Representative at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and the Co-Chair of the Consumer/Patient Rights Subcommittee of the Health Law Section of the New York State Bar Association.   
Mr. Baker received a B.A. and a J.D. from the University of Virginia. 
As Acting Deputy Secretary to the Governor, Joe Baker will receive a salary of $165,000. 

“I also want to thank David Nocenti and Paul Francis for their distinguished service to the State of New York. They are both consummate professionals and dedicated public servants and I am grateful for all that they have done for the people of New York and for our State,” said Governor Paterson. “I wish both David and Paul the best in their future endeavors.” 

These appointments do not require Senate confirmation. 

 

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