Ohio State to grant Sebelius honorary degree for ‘innovation’

The woman who presided over the botched rollout of HealthCare.gov is scheduled to receive an honorary degree from Ohio’s largest university because her work “was committed to ensuring that America continues to lead the world in innovation.”

The College Fix reports that Kathleen Sebelius, the former secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has been approved for an honorary degree by the Ohio State University (OSU) Senate and the Committee on Honorary Degrees.

The final decision will be made Friday pending approval from the OSU Board of Trustees.

The proposed honorary degree highlights Ms. Sebelius’ “ambitious efforts to improve America’s health and enhance the delivery of human services to some of the nation’s most vulnerable populations, including young children [.]”

In 2013, Sebelius refused to “overrule the age requirement” and allow a dying 10-year-old girl to receive an urgent lung transplant. Sebelius said doing so might disadvantage other patients. The young girl eventually received an adult double lung transplant.

Sebelius, who was named Forbes 13th most powerful woman in the world, is not without strong Ohio ties. Her father, John Gilligan, served as Ohio’s Governor from 1971 to 1975.

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