Val Arkoosh | |
---|---|
Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services | |
Assumed office January 17, 2023 Acting until June 29, 2023 | |
Governor | Josh Shapiro |
Preceded by | Meg Snead (acting) |
Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners | |
In office November 17, 2016 – January 17, 2023 | |
Preceded by | Josh Shapiro |
Succeeded by | Kenneth E. Lawrence, Jr. |
Member of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners | |
In office January 2015 – January 17, 2023 | |
Preceded by | Leslie Richards |
Succeeded by | Jamila H. Winder |
Personal details | |
Born | Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | September 22, 1960
Political party | Democratic |
Children | 3 |
Education |
Northwestern University (
BA) Johns Hopkins University ( MPH) University of Nebraska ( MD) |
Website | Official website |
Valerie A. Arkoosh is an American anesthesiologist, politician, and academic who is the current secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, serving since 2023. Arkoosh was formerly the chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners and the first female chair. [1]
Arkoosh earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Northwestern University in 1982. She earned a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 1986, a earned a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University in 2007. [2] Arkoosh is an anesthesiologist. She performed her residency at Jefferson Medical College in Anesthesiology, with a focus on obstetrics.[ citation needed]
Arkoosh was a professor of clinical anesthesiology and clinical obstetrics and gynecology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. [3] From 1999 to 2004, she was chair of the department of anesthesiology at the Drexel University College of Medicine. She also taught at Sidney Kimmel Medical College. [3]
In 2007, Arkoosh joined the board of the National Physicians Alliance. [4] She served as its president from 2010 to 2012. [3]
Arkoosh ran for Congress in 2014 for Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district when Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz vacated the seat to run for governor. Arkoosh was unsuccessful in the Democratic primary. [5]
Arkoosh was appointed to the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners in January 2015, filing a vacancy left by Leslie Richards, who left her position after being confirmed as secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (and who currently serves as general manager of SEPTA).[ citation needed] She won a four-year term in November 2015, earning 28.27% of the vote, and again in 2019. In 2016, she was unanimously elected to serve as chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. Arkoosh was the vice chair until she was elected as chair. Montgomery County, Pennsylvania is located in southeast Pennsylvania and is the third most populous county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.[ citation needed] She was preceded by Josh Shapiro, who stepped down to become attorney general. She is the first woman to chair the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. In 2019, she won re-election to a second four-year term, earning 32.29% of the vote. [6]
According to Montgomery County, the “Board of Commissioners oversees a budget of $400 million and directs more than 2,400 employees. The Commission manages human services for more than 100,000 residents, the county court and criminal justice system, Voter Services, over 130 county bridges, 75 miles of roads and other infrastructure, seven county parks and nearly 100 miles of trails.” [7]
Arkoosh's resigned from the Montgomery County Commission on January 17, 2023. [8]
On April 5, 2021, Arkoosh launched her campaign for the Democratic nomination for the 2022 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania and filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission. [9] She ran for the open seat left by U.S. Senator Pat Toomey, who is retiring. [10] Arkoosh dropped out of the race in February 2022. [11]
In January 2023, Arkoosh was nominated by governor-elect Josh Shapiro to serve as secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. [12] She automatically became full Secretary on June 29 after the Pennsylvania State Senate failed to act within the constitutionally prescribed 25-legislative-day period to confirm her nomination. [13]
Arkoosh lives in Springfield Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Jeff Harbison. She has 3 children.[ citation needed]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Brendan Boyle | 24,775 | 40.61 | |
Democratic | Marjorie Margolies | 16,723 | 27.41 | |
Democratic | Daylin Leach | 10,130 | 16.60 | |
Democratic | Val Arkoosh | 9,386 | 15.38 | |
Total votes | 61,014 | 100.00 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Josh Shapiro (incumbent) | 30,645 | 54.12 | |
Democratic | Val Arkoosh (incumbent) | 25,864 | 45.68 | |
Write-in | 111 | 0.20 | ||
Total votes | 56,620 | 100.00 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Josh Shapiro (incumbent) | 97,212 | 30.90 | |
Democratic | Val Arkoosh (incumbent) | 88,958 | 28.27 | |
Republican | Joe Gale | 65,740 | 20.90 | |
Republican | Steven Tolbert Jr. | 62,644 | 19.91 | |
Write-in | 64 | 0.02 | ||
Total votes | 314,618 | 100.00 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Val Arkoosh (incumbent) | 48,599 | 46.09 | |
Democratic | Kenneth E. Lawrence, Jr. (incumbent) | 46,998 | 44.58 | |
Democratic | Ray Sosa | 9,836 | 9.33 | |
Total votes | 105,393 | 100.00 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Val Arkoosh (incumbent) | 127,089 | 32.29 | |
Democratic | Kenneth E. Lawrence, Jr. (incumbent) | 124,247 | 31.57 | |
Republican | Joe Gale (incumbent) | 74,023 | 18.81 | |
Republican | Fred Conner | 68,176 | 17.32 | |
Total votes | 393,535 | 100.00 |