Whalen Moves to Health Lobby

ALBANY—David Paterson's director of state operations, Dennis Whalen, will be landing at the Healthcare Association of New York as executive vice president, according to a release from that organization.

Paterson's administration did battle with health care interest groups—SEIU 1199 and the Greater New York Hospital Administration aired blistering TV ads against him—as they pushed for changes in reimbursement in the state budget. HANY never went that far. In a release, HANY said that "Mr. Whalen has established a sterling reputation for his knowledge, his credibility, and his capacity to reconcile conflict and achieve consensus on contentious health policy issues."

Whalen will be leaving Paterson's administration in September.