Gov. Wolf to Nominate Alison Beam as Secretary of Health, Names Dr. Wendy Braund as Interim Acting Physician General

Governor Tom Wolf introduced his intention to appoint Alison Beam to function Secretary of the Division of Well being and named Dr. Wendy Braund Interim Performing Doctor Common.

“Alison Beam is a proficient public servant who brings years of expertise in well being care coverage and implementation to this place,” mentioned Gov. Wolf. “Alison is aware of {that a} robust, extensively out there, and profitable vaccination technique is the trail out of the pains of this pandemic. Her foremost and quick focus can be on the strategic distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, ensuring Pennsylvania receives as many doses as doable from the federal authorities, and that the Pennsylvania Division of Well being coordinates with hospitals, well being facilities, county and native governments, and pharmacy companions to make this vaccine as extensively out there as doable to Pennsylvanians all over the place.”

Beam presently serves as Deputy Chief of Workers to Governor Tom Wolf, coordinating initiatives and assets throughout Pennsylvania’s departments of Well being, Human Providers, Drug & Alcohol Packages, Ageing and Insurance coverage, in addition to the Workplace of Advocacy and Reform. She has helped coordinate the administration’s COVID-19 pandemic response; the rollout of Pennie, Pennsylvania’s medical insurance market; the Attain Out PA marketing campaign; and the Wolf Administration’s well being care reform plan. Previous to transitioning to the Governor’s Workplace, Beam served as Chief of Workers to the Pennsylvania Insurance coverage Commissioner. She beforehand served as Director of Public Coverage and Affiliate Counsel for Independence Well being Group in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Beam graduated from Drexel College College of Legislation and holds a Bachelor of Science in Well being Coverage and Administration from the Pennsylvania State College.

Beam will change outgoing Secretary of Well being Dr. Rachel Levine, who has been nominated to function Assistant Secretary of Well being within the federal Division of Well being and Human Providers. Beam will assume the position of Performing Secretary efficient January 23, 2021.

The governor has additionally named Dr. Wendy Braund as Interim Performing Doctor Common, changing Dr. Rachel Levine in that position.

“Wendy brings years of public well being experience and a dedication to enhancing public well being observe in Pennsylvania to the position of Interim Performing Doctor Common,” mentioned Gov. Wolf. “Wendy has been an integral a part of our COVID-19 pandemic response efforts, and that have can be an asset on this position.”

Braund, MD, MPH, MSEd, FACPM, presently serves because the COVID-19 Response Director for the Pennsylvania Division of Well being. Beforehand, she was the Director of the Heart for Public Well being Follow, Affiliate Dean for Follow, and a Professor of Well being Coverage and Administration on the College of Pittsburgh Graduate College of Public Well being. Previous to her time in academia, she served because the Wyoming State Well being Officer and Public Well being Division Administrator for the Wyoming Division of Well being. Earlier than working on the state degree, Dr. Braund was employed by the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers, first within the Workplace of the Assistant Secretary, Workplace of Illness Prevention and Well being Promotion after which on the Well being Sources and Providers Administration, Bureau of Well being Professions.

Dr. Braund has a BA from Duke College, MSEd from the College of Pennsylvania Graduate College of Training, MPH from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg College of Public Well being, and MD from the Penn State School of Medication. She is a 2007 graduate of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg College of Public Well being Preventive Medication Residency Program and is board licensed in Public Well being and Common Preventive Medication. She is a Fellow of the American School of Preventive Medication.

Dr. Braund will assume the position of Interim Performing Doctor Common efficient January 23, 2021.