Pennsylvania Department of Health

Last updated
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Pennsylvania Department of Health Logo.svg
Agency overview
FormedApril 27, 1905
Jurisdiction Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Headquarters8th Floor West, Health and Human Services Building, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Agency executive
  • Dr. Debra L. Bogen, Secretary of Health
Website http://www.health.pa.gov

Pennsylvania Department of Health is a cabinet-level agency in Pennsylvania. It was established in 1905 and later modified by the Administrative Code of 1929. [1] [2] In 1996, the requirement for the Secretary to be a physician was eliminated and the position of Physician General was created. [1] [3] The Department of Health utilizes community-based strategies to reduce serious illnesses, injuries, and deaths from major health threats, tobacco-related diseases, infectious diseases, and accidental injuries. Its mission has evolved to address the changing landscape of public health, providing programs and services aimed at promoting healthy behaviors, preventing injury and disease, and ensuring the safe delivery of quality healthcare for all Pennsylvania citizens. [1]

Contents

Secretaries

NameDates servedAppointed by
Samuel Gibson Dixon 1905–1918 Samuel W. Pennypacker
Edward Martin1919–1923 William Cameron Sproul
Charles H. Miner1923–1927 Gifford Pinchot
Theodore B. Appel1927–1935 John Stuchell Fisher
Edith MacBride-Dexter1935–1939 George Howard Earle
John J. Shaw1939–1941 Arthur James
Alexander H. Stewart1942–1945
Harry W. West1945–1947 Edward Martin
Norris W. Vaux1947–1951 James H. Duff
Russell E. Teague1951–1955 John S. Fine
Berwyn F. Mattison1955–1957 George M. Leader
Charles L. Wilbar1957–1967
Thomas W. Georges1967 Raymond P. Shafer
Ellsworth R. Browneller1970–1971
J. Finton Speller1971–1974 Milton Shapp
Leonard Bachman1975–1979
Gordon K. MacLeod1979 Dick Thornburgh
H. Arnold Muller1979–1987
N. Mark Richards1987–1991 Bob Casey Sr.
Allan S. Noonan1992–1995
Peter J. Jannetta1995–1996 Tom Ridge
Daniel F. Hoffman1996–1999
Robert S. Zimmerman1999–2003
Calvin B. Johnson 2003–2008 Ed Rendell
Everette James 2008–2011
Eli Avila2011–2012 Tom Corbett
Michael Wolf2012–2015
Karen Murphy 2015-2017 Tom Wolf
Rachel Levine 2017–2021
Alison Beam (Acting) [4] 2021-2022
Keara Klineparter (Acting)2022
Denise Johnson (Acting)2022-2023
Debra Bogen 2023-Present Josh Shapiro

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "About the Department of Health". www.health.pa.gov. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  2. "The Administrative Code of 1929". legis.state.pa.us.
  3. Weinstein, Mark (March 26, 1996). "House makes health service priority with new position". York Daily Record. p. 4A.
  4. "Gov. Wolf to Nominate Alison Beam as Secretary of Health, Names Dr. Wendy Braund as Interim Acting Physician General". Governor's Office. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.