“The Washington State Department of Health has named Dr. Maxine Hayes, M.D., MPH, to the position of State Health Officer. Hayes will advise Governor Gary Locke and Secretary of Health Mary Selecky on public health issues from responding to emergencies such as E-coli outbreaks to preventing childhood illnesses.Hayes has directed the state health department’s Community and Family Health Division since 1994. The division operates programs for community wellness and prevention, infectious disease and reproductive health, maternal and child health. From 1991 to 1994, Hayes led the Division of Parent Child Health Services in the department. She directed parent and children programs at the Department of Social and Health Services from 1988 to 1991. Prior to that, from 1985 to 1988, Hayes was medical director at the Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic, an affiliate of Children’s Hospital in Seattle.Selecky announced other appointments including:- Jack Williams, Assistant Secretary for Community and Family Health. Williams worked with Hayes as administrator of this division since 1996. He has worked in a variety of children and family programs since 1984.- Bill White, Assistant Secretary for Environmental Health. White has managed several environmental health programs for the health department since 1995. From 1989 to 1994 he served as Clallam County Director of Community Development.- Jac Davies, Assistant Secretary for Epidemiology, Health Statistics and Public Health Laboratories Division. Davies joined the health department in 1986 and has held a number of positions in the state public health laboratory.- Ron Weaver, Assistant Secretary for Health Systems Quality Assurance Division. Weaver directed the department’s programs that license and regulate health care professionals since 1989. He previously managed similar programs at the state Department of Licensing.”