Dr. Kiame Mahaniah, Mary McGeown Appointed HHS Undersecretaries

BOSTON — Secretary of Health and Human Services Kate Walsh announced Dr. Kiame Mahaniah will join HHS as undersecretary for Health effective April 24, and Mary McGeown will join as undersecretary for Human Services effective April 10. Both will help lead the work of the largest secretariat in state government, programs of which directly serve one in four residents of the Commonwealth.

Mahaniah is a practicing physician in the field of addiction and primary care and most recently served as CEO of Lynn Community Health Center, where he led the transition into value-based care. He is an assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine, the outgoing board chair of the Community Care Cooperative, and an active member of the Health Equity Compact. He holds an MBA from UMass Amherst, a medical degree from Thomas Jefferson University, and a bachelor’s degree from Haverford College.

“I am grateful to Secretary Walsh for the opportunity to further promote health equity and ensure the highest quality of care for people in Massachusetts,” Mahaniah said. “My career has been geared toward improving the quality of life of those most in need in my circles of responsibility. To be part of the team that designs and manages some of the systems most crucial to the well-being of our state is a privilege, and the opportunity of a lifetime.”

McGeown has provided executive leadership to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (MSPCC) since 2012, where she was responsible for MSPCC’s advocacy for policies, services, and organizational fund development and stakeholder support. Prior to joining MSPCC, she held various leadership roles in Massachusetts state government, including chief of staff for HHS and deputy commissioner for the Department of Youth Services. Currently, she co-chairs the Massachusetts Families and Children Requiring Assistance Advisory Board and Boston Children’s Hospital’s board committee on community service. She holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University.

“I am honored to join Secretary Walsh’s team as we work to support all Massachusetts residents, particularly individuals with disabilities, children, youth, and families,” McGeown said. “I look forward to working collaboratively to strengthen health, resilience, and independence for residents across the Commonwealth.”