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I'm not sure that I
can go after you.

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Good almost afternoon, everyone.

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First I want to thank Mayor
Wilson for her confidence and

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trust and for the opportunity
to serve the people of Seattle

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and King County in this role.

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If you don't know, the
public health director role

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is a dual role, and so I
sit on the mayor's cabinet

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and the King County
executive's cabinet.

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I'm honored to stand
here alongside

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all of the fellow
department directors

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as we take this oath of service.

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I also want to thank
the city council,

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County Executive Zahilay,
the King County Council,

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the public health staff
who have supported me

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through this process,
community partners,

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my family, especially
my husband, who's here

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and has done a lot of
daddy daycare lately.

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Friends, I have one of my
friends who I've known

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for over 20 years,
Miriam from college,

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and Anais, who's a
native Seattleite,

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who I've known since
medical school.

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both of them convinced me
to move to Seattle, and

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everybody else who has
supported me throughout

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my career and during
this transition.

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Public health is fundamentally

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a team effort, and I
recognize that no one

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reaches a moment
like this alone.

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After four separate
confirmation hearings,

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Yes, four.

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I can confidently say I
have had ample opportunity

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to discuss public health.

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While I may not recommend that
experience recreationally,

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I'm grateful for the thoughtful
questions, the engagement,

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the dialogue, because they
reflect something important.

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People in this region care
deeply about public health and

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the communities that we serve.

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Today is both a professional
milestone and a deeply

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personal moment for me.

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I grew up in a family that
relied on many of the same

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public systems and safety
net services that support

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millions of Americans today,
including public health clinics.

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Those experiences shaped my
understanding of what public

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service can mean in the life
of a child and a family.

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They taught me that health is
much more than health care.

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It is about whether people have
access to opportunity, safe

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housing, quality education,
nutritious food, economic

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stability, and communities
where they can thrive.

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Those experiences ultimately
led me to a career in

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medicine and public health.

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Throughout my career, whether
serving as a physician,

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educator, public health
leader, health department

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executive, I have been
guided by a simple belief.

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A person's health and life
expectancy should not be

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determined by their race,
income, zip code, language,

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or the circumstances in
which they were born.

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Public health exists to create
the conditions that allow

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all people to live healthy,
safe, and fulfilling lives.

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Public Health Seattle and
King County has long been

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recognized as one of the
leading public health

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nation's agencies in the
nation if not the best one.

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Its history is one of scientific
excellence, innovation, and

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a steadfast commitment
to health equity.

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I am humbled by
the opportunity to

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help carry that legacy forward.

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We are entering a period
of both challenge

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and opportunity.

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Across the country,
as we've all seen,

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public health agencies are
navigating significant

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uncertainty. We continue
to face behavioral

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health and substance use
crises, persistent health

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inequities, emerging
infectious disease threats,

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climate related health
impacts, and increasing

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demands on our public
health infrastructure.

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We're also operating
in a rapidly

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changing federal environment
and questions about future

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funding streams, evolving
policy priorities, and

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the long-term sustainability
of many public health

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programs. Yet public health
has always done some of

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its best work during
moments like these.

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These challenges remind us

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why public health matters.

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They remind us that strong
local public health

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systems are essential to
protecting communities,

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preparing for emergencies,
advancing health equity, and

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ensuring that every resident
has the opportunity to

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live a healthy life.

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My vision is for a public
health system that is trusted,

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data-driven, community-centered,
and responsive to the evolving

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needs of our residents.

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A system that
embraces innovation

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while remaining
grounded in science.

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A system that listens
to communities,

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partners across sectors, and
recognizes that health is

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shaped not only in clinics and
hospitals, but also in schools,

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neighborhoods,
workplaces, and homes.

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Most importantly, I want
Public Health Seattle

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and King County to remain a
place where every resident

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knows that their health,
dignity, and well-being

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matter. As I take the oath
today, I do so with humility,

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gratitude, and a deep
sense of responsibility.

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To whom much is given,
much will be required.

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I pledge to listen, to learn,

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to lead with integrity, and to
work every day in the service

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of the people of Seattle
and King County.

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Thank you for this opportunity.

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I look forward to
the work ahead.

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Thank you.

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All right.

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And Sandra, Dr.
Sandra Valenciano.

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Please raise your right
hand and repeat after me.

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I, Dr. Sandra Valenciano.

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I, Dr. Sandra Valenciano.

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Swear that I possess.

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Swear that I possess all of the
qualifications prescribed all

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of the qualifications prescribed
in the Seattle City Charter

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in the Seattle City Charter
and the Seattle Municipal

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Code and the Seattle Municipal
Code for the position of for

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the position of the public
health Seattle and King County

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as the director of public
health Seattle and King County.

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Yes, yes, yes.

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That I will support
the Constitution of

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the United States.

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That I will support
the Constitution of

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the United States.

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And the Constitution of
the State of Washington.

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And the Constitution of
the State of Washington.

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And the Charter and Ordinances
of the City of Seattle.

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And the Charter and Ordinances
of the City of Seattle.

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And that I will faithfully
conduct myself.

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And that I will faithfully
conduct myself.

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As the Director of the
Seattle and King County

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Public Health Department.

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As the Director of Public
Health Seattle and King County.

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Thank you.

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Congratulations. Thank you.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.