NCHC Hosts Reception in Honor of Founder and President Emeritus

The National Coalition on Health Care held a reception this morning in honor of Dr. Henry Simmons, Founder and President Emeritus at the Coalition. Earlier, Dr. Simmons held a variety of distinguished posts in both the public and private sectors. During the Nixon and Ford administrations, Dr. Simmons served as deputy assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW), director of the Office of Professional Standards Review at HEW, and director of the Bureau of Drugs at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). President Reagan appointed Dr. Simmons as one of two physician members to serve on the Grace Commission.

Immediately following his federal service, Dr. Simmons became a senior vice president at the J. Walter Thompson Company. Dr. Simmons has also held the posts of president and chief executive officer of the Hunterdon Medical Center, Flemington, New Jersey, as well as senior vice president and director of the Health Care Division of Sears World Trade, Inc. In addition, Dr. Simmons was director of the Health and Medical Consulting Division at Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Company.

Dr. Simmons has been associated with numerous universities and medical centers across the country. He was appointed visiting research professor at the George Washington University School of Business and Government; served as faculty member and consultant in rheumatic diseases and internal medicine at Tufts New England Medical Center; professor of community and family medicine at Rutgers University School of Medicine; assistant clinical professor of medicine at Georgetown University; and associate professor of medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine.

Throughout his career, Dr. Simmons has testified before the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. Dr. Simmons has received frequent recognition for his service in both the private and public sectors. Among his honors have been the FDA Award of Merit, the HEW Certificate of Merit, and the Annual Oliver Wendell Holmes Society Lectureship. Dr. Simmons received undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Public Health degree from Harvard University.

The Coalition is grateful for his service and his contribution to creating a health system that is affordable, sustainable and fair.