Leadership With Purpose

Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH is a physician, visionary, and health leader with over 20 years of on-ground experience navigating the front lines of healthcare and government. From Texas to Washington, and beyond, he’s led through countless national and global crises, shaped systems, and built bridges across red and blue landscapes – all with a deep commitment to people and purpose.

Most recently serving as Secretary of Health for Washington state, Dr. Shah previously led Harris County Public Health in Texas and was president of NACCHO, representing 3,000 local health departments. He spent two decades caring for veterans as an emergency physician in the VA health system.

Today, he advises organizations through Rickshaw Enterprises, LLC, focusing on strategy, leadership, and transformation. A proud son of immigrants, shaped by his Asian-American values, Midwestern roots, and Texas grit, Dr. Shah believes that leadership is about showing up – especially when it’s hard – and that the journey matters just as much as the destination. Each and every time.