Indian Health Service Announces New Deputy Director for Intergovernmental Affairs

WASHINGTON, DC—The Indian Health Service is announcing the appointment of Stacey Ecoffey, an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, as the new deputy director for intergovernmental affairs at IHS headquarters. In this position, Ecoffey is responsible for providing leadership on tribal and urban Indian health activities through oversight of the Office of Tribal Self-Governance, Office of Direct Service and Contracting Tribes, and Office of Urban Indian Health Programs.

“Stacey has been a consistent advocate for Indian Country throughout her career and has extensive experience working with tribal leaders and tribal governments,” said IHS Director Roselyn Tso. “One of my top priorities is to strengthen our relationships with tribes and tribal and urban Indian organizations. Stacey brings a wealth of experience, and we are excited to welcome her to the IHS team.”

As deputy director for intergovernmental affairs, Ecoffey will also provide leadership, oversight and direction on all congressional engagements and interactions, and correspondence with external stakeholders through supervision of the Congressional and Legislative Affairs staff, the Public Affairs staff, and the Executive Secretariat staff in the Office of the Director.

Prior to joining the IHS, Ecoffey served as the principal advisor for Tribal Affairs at the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs, Immediate Office of the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services for over 15 years, overseeing all departmental tribal consultations, the development, leadership, and management of the Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee, and communication to and with tribal leaders and tribal governments. In this capacity, she has advised five HHS cabinet-level secretaries and has led tribal issues through administrative transitions, providing guidance and advice on HHS policies and programs and their potential and real impacts on Indian Country.

Ecoffey also represented HHS as a liaison to the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and served as the lead HHS liaison for the White House Council on Native American Affairs. Her leadership in this role has resulted in numerous concrete policy and programmatic changes at HHS for the betterment of Indian Country.

“I am excited for this opportunity to continue working with tribal nations to improve the lives of American Indian and Alaska Native people,” Ecoffey said. “The experience that I received while working at HHS and with tribal leaders has positioned me to contribute to the critical mission of the Indian Health Service to improve the health status of our people. I am happy and excited to be part of the IHS team.”

Ecoffey earned a Bachelor of Arts from Colorado State University and received a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Boston College. She was awarded the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s “40 under 40” award in 2012, and a National Impact Award from the National Indian Health Board in 2014. Ecoffey also received HHS’ highest honor in 2015 when she received the HHS Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service.

The IHS would also like to thank Dr. Rose Weahkee, who has served as the acting deputy director for intergovernmental affairs since May 2022. Dr. Weahkee will return to her permanent position as director of the Office of Urban Indian Health Programs.

The IHS, an agency in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides a comprehensive health service delivery system for approximately 2.7 million American Indians and Alaska Natives who belong to 574 federally recognized tribes in 37 states. Follow the agency via social media on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

 

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