Oregon’s top public health official resigns

Oregon’s top public health official is stepping down from her role after two and a half years. 

Dr. Sejal Hathi, who joined the Oregon Health Authority in January 2024, will leave Aug. 1 to focus on family and personal priorities, the governor’s office announced Thursday. 

Hathi, who earns $265,488 per year, joined the Oregon Health Authority after serving as New Jersey’s deputy commissioner for public health services. She previously served as the White House’s senior policy for public health under the Biden administration.

As the state searches for a new director, Gov. Tina Kotek will appoint Fariborz Pakseresht to serve as interim director beginning July 6 to help the agency during the leadership transition. Pakseresht worked for the state of Oregon for 35 years, retiring in the fall after serving as the director of the Oregon Department of Human Services for eight years. 

“Oregon remains steadfast in our commitment to expanding access to care, advancing health equity, and strengthening the systems that serve our communities,” Kotek said in a statement. “I am grateful to Dr. Hathi for her service, and I appreciate Fariborz Pakseresht for stepping in to support this critical work as we recruit for a permanent director.”

The Oregon Health Authority is one of the largest state agencies, with a $41.5 billion budget during the 2025-27 budget cycle. The agency oversees programs addressing behavioral health, improving healthcare access and providing Medicaid coverage to more than one in three Oregonians.