The State Board of Health Welcomes Newest Member Paj Nandi, MPH
Tumwater, WA – December 28, 2023 – Governor Jay Inslee has appointed Paj Nandi, public health practitioner, leader, and strategist with over 20 years of experience, to the Washington State Board of Health. Nandi fills the position of a person experienced in matters of Health and Sanitation.
Member Nandi currently serves as an Associate Vice President at Desautel Hege (DH) Communications where he provides strategic counsel and leads key initiatives to advance equity-centered communications and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices. Previously, he served as the Director of Community Relations and Equity for the Washington State Department of Health (Department). As an agency leader, he advised the Secretary of Health, the State Health Officer, and other agency leaders on key equity and community relations issues and represented the Department on the Governor’s Interagency Council on Health Disparities from 2016 to 2021. In addition, Member Nandi built and sustained partnerships with the Governor’s Office, non-governmental entities, community-based organizations, and academic partners, with an emphasis on achieving health equity, centering community voices, and eliminating structural inequities.
“I am honored and delighted to join the Board and serve Washingtonians by centering health equity in policy decisions,” said Member Nandi.
“Paj Nandi brings a wealth of expertise to the State Board of Health,” said Patty Hayes, Board Chair. “I'm excited to have him join the Board."
Early in his career, Member Nandi worked in childhood education (India) and tuberculosis prevention (Thailand) and learned firsthand the value and efficacy of using culturally relevant and community-rooted approaches to improve health. His leadership journey also included serving on the Board of the Washington State Public Health Association for seven years, including a term as President in 2016-17. He also holds a Clinical Faculty position at the University of Washington’s School of Public Health and has previously taught at the Gillings School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill and the Evergreen State College. For more information about Member Nandi and the work that he does, you can read his full biography on our website.
Member Nandi is expected to join the next Board meeting on January 10, 2024. The final agenda and meeting materials will be available on the meeting webpage on January 3, 2024.
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Established by the state constitution in 1889, the State Board of Health has served the people of Washington for 132 years, providing leadership and advancing public health practices that protect and improve the public’s health. Our work focuses on analyzing policies, developing rules, promoting partnerships, and encouraging public engagement in the public health system.
Media contact information
Michelle Larson
Communication Manager
Washington State Board of Health
Michelle.Larson@sboh.wa.gov
(360) 236-4102
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