UmairA.ShahMDMPH

Internal Medicine • Bellevue, WA

Preventive Medicine, Health and Culture

Founder | CEO Rickshaw Enterprises, LLC

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Office
P.O. Box 40372
Bellevue, WA 98015
Phone+1 206-880-0452

Summary

Dr. Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH is a physician leader and public health innovator with over two decades of experience advancing health systems across local, state, national, and global arenas. Trained in internal medicine with deep clinical experience in emergency care, he brings a unique blend of frontline practice, policy expertise, and executive leadership to today’s most complex health challenges.

Dr. Shah most recently served as Secretary of Health for the State of Washington, where he led the agency through a time of profound challenge, transformation, and innovation. Prior to that, he directed one of the nation’s largest local health departments in Harris County, Texas, and served for many years as an emergency care physician at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center.

He holds faculty appointments at the University of Washington, Baylor College of Medicine, and the University of Texas Health Science Center. He earned his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University, his medical degree from the University of Toledo Health Science Center, and completed his residency, fellowship, and MPH at the University of Texas.

Now leading Rickshaw Health, a strategic advisory firm, Dr. Shah supports organizations through health system transformation, leadership development, and executive coaching. A trusted guide for emerging and seasoned leaders alike, he brings practical insight and real-world experience to help navigate complexity, drive innovation, and sustain impact.

He is widely sought for his expertise on systems leadership, preparedness, and equity, and has authored numerous publications with over 100 citations.

Education & Training

University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonFellowship, General Medicine/Public Health, 1999 - 2001
University of Texas School of Public HealthMPH, Management / Health Service Organizations, 1999 - 2001
University of Texas School of Public HealthMPH, Management and Policy, 2001
University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonResidency, Internal Medicine, 1996 - 1999
The University of Toledo College of MedicineClass of 1996
Vanderbilt UniversityBA, Philosophy, 1988 - 1992
Vanderbilt UniversityBA, Philosophy, 1992

Certifications & Licensure

TX State Medical License 1998 - 2026
WA State Medical License 2021 - 2025

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

Davies Award (agency) HIMSS, 2024
Public Administrator of the Year University of Houston, 2021
Roemer Prize in Innovation APHA, 2018
Health Department of the Year (agency) NACCHO, 2016
Excellence in Patient Care Award for Hurricane Harvey Response National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation, 2017
Media Recognition, Top 17 Tweeters in Harris County Government (listed as #15) Houston Chronicle, 2016
Recognition for Response Efforts in Hurricane Katrina Operations - Ten Year Commemoration Harris County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, 2015
Leadership Recognition Asian-American Health Coalition, 2014
Recognition for Outstanding Community Leadership Texas State Representative Gene Wu, 2013
Recognition for Emergency Response Efforts for Hurricane Katrina Dome Operations Harris County Judge Robert A. Eckels, 2005
Outstanding Medicine Resident Award Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas-Houston, 1999
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Publications & Presentations

PubMed

8 citations
The Texas flood registry: a flexible tool for environmental and public health practitioners and researchers.
Marie Lynn Miranda, Rashida Callender, Joally M Canales, Elena Craft, Katherine B. Ensor
Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology. 2021-06-26
Provider and Public Health Adaptation to Changing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guidance for Zika Virus, 2015-2017.
Benjamin D. Hornstein, Erika P. Olsen, Rebecca J. Rubinstein, Sherry Jin, Ana Zangeneh
American Journal of Public Health. 2019-05-08
7 citations
Influenza A (H3) Outbreak at a Hurricane Harvey Megashelter in Harris County, Texas: Successes and Challenges in Disease Identification and Control Measure Implementation
Leann Liu, Aisha Haynie, Sherry Jin, Ana Zangeneh, Eric Bakota
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. 2019-02-01

Journal Articles

The 2014 West Nile Virus Outbreak in Houston/Harris County, Texas
Martinez D, Murray, KO, Reyna M, Arafat RR, Gorena R, Shah UA, Debboun M, Emerging Infectious Diseases, 1/1/2017
Local Health Department�s Journey Toward Health Equity
Shah UA, Hadayia JM, Forys LE, Health Equity, 1/1/2017

Abstracts/Posters

Working Together to Create a Culture of Health: Local and State Perspectives
Shah U, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), Washington, DC, 1/1/2017
Hurricane Harvey Response
Shah U, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), Washington, DC, 1/1/2017
Climate and Health: A Local Perspective
Shah U, American Public Health Association (APHA), Atlanta, GA, 1/1/2017
Community Health and Health Equity
Shah U, AETNA Foundation and National Association of Counties, Atlanta, GA, 1/1/2017
The Changing HHS Landscape and Leading Forward through Uncertainty
Shah U, Governing Magazine Health Summit, Arlington, VA, 1/1/2017
Achieving Optimal Health and Well-Being
Shah U, National Association of Counties Annual Conference, Columbus, OH, 1/1/2017
Advancing Health Equity at the Community Level
Shah U, NACCHO Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, 1/1/2017
Disaster Medicine and Emergency Response in Texas
Shah U, Texas Medical Association (TMA), TexMed 2017, Houston, TX, 1/1/2017
Zika Virus - Preparing for 2017: CDC, State, and Local Response
Shah U, NACCHO Public Health and Emergency Preparedness Summit, Atlanta, GA, 1/1/2017
Emergency Legal Preparedness
Shah U, Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, DC, 1/1/2017
Global Health and Impact on Communities
Shah U, Workshop on Examining Opportunities for Future of Healthcare/Public Health Preparedness, NASEM, Washington, DC, 1/1/2017
Healthy Communities - Healthy Rankings 2017
Shah U, Texas Public Health Association Annual Conference, Fort Worth, TX, 1/1/2017
Building Healthy Communities: Counties as Partners
Shah U, National Association of Counties Legislative Conference, Washington, DC, 1/1/2017
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Other

The Role of Public Health and Healthcare in Responses to Hurricane Harvey and Irma
Shah U, Congressional Briefing Webinar, Trust for America�s Health (TFAH)
Washington, DC - 1/1/2017

Press Mentions

Trump Administration Abruptly Cuts Billions from State Health ServicesMarch 26th, 2025
Formerly Anti-Vax Parents on How They Changed Their Minds: ‘I Really Made a Mistake’February 27th, 2025
WA Secretary of Health, Dr. Umair Shah, Stepping down in 2025November 19th, 2024
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