Delaware News

Secretary Magarik Announces Leadership Changes at Department of Health and Social Services

News | Date Posted: Friday, March 31, 2023


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NEW CASTLE, Del. (March 31, 2023) — Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Molly Magarik today announced leadership changes at the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH).

Dr. Elizabeth (Liz) Brown, a board-certified family physician who has served as Chief Medical Officer of the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA) since 2018, will assume the role of Interim Director of the Division of Public Health, effective April 1, 2023. Dr. Brown will lead the division temporarily as the agency continues the search for a permanent director.

Since joining DMMA in 2018, Dr. Brown has emphasized evidence-informed decision making and grown DMMA’s resources for quality improvement. In addition to general clinical oversight, she has brought special focus to expanding substance use disorder treatment for the Medicaid population, improving outcomes for parents and infants in pregnancy and postpartum, and identifying and addressing social determinants of health.

Dr. Brown earned her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Northwestern University, her medical degree at the University of Chicago and completed her family medicine residency at Brown University. She was a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a master’s degree in health policy research, focusing on access to primary care for vulnerable populations. Prior to joining DMMA, she was the inaugural Harrington Clinician Scholar at the Christiana Care Health System Value Institute, and a faculty member in Family and Community Medicine. Her work included identifying race, ethnicity, and preferred language in EMR data, evaluating a team-based primary care model, and increasing access to long-acting reversible contraceptives.

“Dr. Liz Brown is an innovative leader with proven clinical and policy experience,” said Secretary Magarik. “As a dedicated and passionate family physician, she understands the Public Health mission first-hand, and the critical work taking place to address social determinants of health and ensure all Delawareans have equal access to health care. I am confident that DPH will be in good hands as she assumes this additional role.”

Dr. Brown replaces Dr. Rick Hong, who has served as Interim Director since July 1, 2022. Dr. Hong will move into the role of Casual/Seasonal Physician Adviser for the Division of Public Health.

Dr. Hong has served in various leadership roles at the Division of Public Health during the past 15 years. Prior to stepping into the role as Interim Division Director, he served as DPH Medical Director during much of the COVID-19 pandemic. He has also previously served as Medical Director for the Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness Section.

“I am grateful to Dr. Hong for the incredible leadership and clinical expertise he brought to his role as Interim Director,” said Secretary Magarik. “He stepped in to lead the division without skipping a beat and his dedication to ensuring the health and safety of Delawareans, especially during the state’s COVID-19 response, has not wavered. I look forward to the work he will continue to do for DHSS and extend my heartfelt gratitude for his service.”

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Secretary Magarik Announces Leadership Changes at Department of Health and Social Services

News | Date Posted: Friday, March 31, 2023


Headline in graphic

NEW CASTLE, Del. (March 31, 2023) — Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Molly Magarik today announced leadership changes at the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH).

Dr. Elizabeth (Liz) Brown, a board-certified family physician who has served as Chief Medical Officer of the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA) since 2018, will assume the role of Interim Director of the Division of Public Health, effective April 1, 2023. Dr. Brown will lead the division temporarily as the agency continues the search for a permanent director.

Since joining DMMA in 2018, Dr. Brown has emphasized evidence-informed decision making and grown DMMA’s resources for quality improvement. In addition to general clinical oversight, she has brought special focus to expanding substance use disorder treatment for the Medicaid population, improving outcomes for parents and infants in pregnancy and postpartum, and identifying and addressing social determinants of health.

Dr. Brown earned her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Northwestern University, her medical degree at the University of Chicago and completed her family medicine residency at Brown University. She was a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a master’s degree in health policy research, focusing on access to primary care for vulnerable populations. Prior to joining DMMA, she was the inaugural Harrington Clinician Scholar at the Christiana Care Health System Value Institute, and a faculty member in Family and Community Medicine. Her work included identifying race, ethnicity, and preferred language in EMR data, evaluating a team-based primary care model, and increasing access to long-acting reversible contraceptives.

“Dr. Liz Brown is an innovative leader with proven clinical and policy experience,” said Secretary Magarik. “As a dedicated and passionate family physician, she understands the Public Health mission first-hand, and the critical work taking place to address social determinants of health and ensure all Delawareans have equal access to health care. I am confident that DPH will be in good hands as she assumes this additional role.”

Dr. Brown replaces Dr. Rick Hong, who has served as Interim Director since July 1, 2022. Dr. Hong will move into the role of Casual/Seasonal Physician Adviser for the Division of Public Health.

Dr. Hong has served in various leadership roles at the Division of Public Health during the past 15 years. Prior to stepping into the role as Interim Division Director, he served as DPH Medical Director during much of the COVID-19 pandemic. He has also previously served as Medical Director for the Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness Section.

“I am grateful to Dr. Hong for the incredible leadership and clinical expertise he brought to his role as Interim Director,” said Secretary Magarik. “He stepped in to lead the division without skipping a beat and his dedication to ensuring the health and safety of Delawareans, especially during the state’s COVID-19 response, has not wavered. I look forward to the work he will continue to do for DHSS and extend my heartfelt gratitude for his service.”

image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.