Bio, via Department of Health and Human Services:

Renee L. Ellmers was appointed by the White House as Regional Director of Region 4 of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in May 2017. As a Presidential Appointee, Ms. Ellmers provides executive leadership as the primary representative for the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The office of the Regional Director is also tasked with intergovernmental and external affairs bringing together federal, state, local and tribal government organizations, along with other external partners. In her role, Ms. Ellmers is responsible for the eight southeastern states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, as well as six federally recognized tribes; making Region 4 the largest of ten regions. Renee Ellmers comes to us from the great state of North Carolina with a strong background in public service. She was elected to three terms in the House as the U.S. Representative for North Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District. In Congress, she served on the Health Subcommittee of the Energy & Commerce Committee. As a congresswoman, Ms. Ellmers supported and called for funding of the 21st Century Cures Act. This Act will bring our health care innovation infrastructure into the 21st Century, delivering hope for patients and loved ones and providing necessary resources to researchers to continue their efforts to uncover the next generation of cures and treatments. Ms. Ellmers was born and raised in Michigan. She graduated from Oakland University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1990 and began her career as a surgical intensive care nurse. She later became clinical director for Ellmers General Surgery and the Trinity Wound Care Center in Dunn, North Carolina. Ms. Ellmers was active in her community as a member of the Dunn, North Carolina Planning Board and the Chamber of Commerce. She currently lives in Dunn, North Carolina with her husband of 23 years, Brent, who is a General Surgeon, and her son Ben, a student at North Carolina University.