Alexander M. Azar II was appointed by George W. Bush

George W. Bush

George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....

 as the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Before this appointment, Mr. Azar served as General Counsel at HHS.

Prior to his service at the Department of Health and Human Services, Mr. Azar was a partner with the law firm of Wiley Rein in Washington, D.C. He was previously an Associate with Kirkland & Ellis

Kirkland & Ellis

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is an international law firm with headquarters in Chicago, known for its profitability and its litigation, bankruptcy, intellectual property and private equity departments. Kirkland & Ellis is currently ranked as the ninth most prestigious law firm in the United States by...

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Education and early career

Mr. Azar is a graduate of Parkside High School

Parkside High School

Parkside High School is a four-year public high school in Salisbury, Wicomico County, Maryland, United States. It is one of four public high schools in Wicomico County along with James Bennett High School, Wicomico High School, and Mardela Middle and High School.-About the School:The school is...

, Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...

 and Yale Law School

Yale Law School

Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...

. He later worked as a law clerk

Law clerk

A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...

 to Judge Michael Luttig and Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia

Antonin Scalia

Antonin Gregory Scalia is an American jurist who serves as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. As the longest-serving justice on the Court, Scalia is the Senior Associate Justice...

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Although a talented lawyer, Mr. Azar has no direct experience with medicine, medical science or health care.

Eli Lilly

In May 2007 Azar left the HHS to become senior vice president of corporate affairs and communication for Eli Lilly and Company

Eli Lilly and Company

Eli Lilly and Company is a global pharmaceutical company. Eli Lilly's global headquarters is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, in the United States...

, reporting directly to Chief Executive Sidney Taurel

Sidney Taurel

Sidney Taurel is chairman and a former chief executive officer for Eli Lilly and Company. He became chief executive officer in July 1998 and chairman of the board of directors on January 1, 1999. He was succeeded as chief executive officer by John C...

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