Seattle City Wire

As Seattle-King County Public Health Director Patty Hayes heads into retirement, Seattle Council member Teresa Mosqueda celebrated Hayes' dedication to public service. 

Hayes has been head of the health department of 1,500 employees since 2014. The department provides a number of public health services to about 2 million King County residents. 

"Today we celebrate Director Hayes for the 30+ years of dedication to public health and nursing, especially the seven years as the director of King County public health, and leading us through the historic crisis we've faced in combating the unfolding impact of COVID-19," Mosqueda wrote in a May 24 Tweet. 

Teresa Mosqueda, City Council | Seattle.gov

Hayes oversaw the "massive mobilization" of the agency for more than a year during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a King County news release.

"Due to Director Hayes' proactive response and recommendations, King County has been able to maintain low infection and death rates among major counties in the nation. Throughout her career, Director Hayes has been an active advocate of race and social justice in public health." Mosqueda added to the Tweet. 

When Hayes was the division director of community and family health, Mosqueda worked under Hayes in her position at the Washington State Department of Health. While Mosqueda was at the Children's Alliance, she worked alongside Hayes, who served as executive director at WithinReach, according to Seattle.gov.

"Wishing King County Public Health Director Patty Hayes a happy retirement! Patty is an outstanding public servant, leader and health equity champion," Mosqueda tweeted May 19. "I'm honored to call her a mentor and friend, and I'm grateful for the key role she played in responding to the COVID-19 crisis."

The Seattle City Council issued a proclamation honoring Hayes on May 24.

In 2014, Hayes received the Heroine of Health Care Award from the Center of Women and Democracy, according to the King County website.

As of May 29, Dennis Worsham will serve as Seattle-King County Public Health's interim director. Worsham has been the department's Prevention Division director for six years.