Dr. Wendy Davis to Assume Top Public Health Position in the State

AHS Secretary Announces New Commissioner of Health
Dr. Wendy Davis to Assume Top Public Health Position in the State
Agency of Human Services Secretary Cynthia D. LaWare today announced her appointment of Wendy Sue Davis, M.D., as Vermont's new Commissioner of Health.
"Dr. Davis has accepted this opportunity to provide interim leadership at a critical time for the Department of Health. She will be working closely with me as we conduct a national search for this important public health leadership role," stated Secretary LaWare. "Thanks to a new Vermont law championed by Governor Douglas, our state now has the flexibility to consider not only physicians for this position, but also advanced degreed public health professionals with more diverse background, ensuring our state has access to a variety of qualified candidates to serve in this critically important leadership role."
The Secretary went on to say, "I look forward to working with Dr. Davis in her capacity as Commissioner of Health. Wendy is well-respected and of the highest integrity and professionalism. While Dr. Davis is committed to excellence in public health, her passion lies in the maternal and child health specialty area and at this time, her intention is to return to her role as Director of the Maternal and Child Health Division within the Department of Health."
Dr. Davis, a licensed pediatrician, has been with the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) since early 2007, when she became the Director of the Maternal and Child Health Division. Her responsibilities included overseeing the Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Children with Special Health Needs (CSHN), family planning and other department maternal and child health programs. She also led the Health Department's involvement as a senior partner in the Vermont Child Health Improvement Program (VCHIP).
Dr. Davis also received the Commissioner's Award from VDH in 2002 and is a former consultant to the Health Department Division of Community Public Health. She serves on the VDH Birth Information Advisory Committee, and served on the Governors Blueprint for Health, Chronic Care Initiative Provider Practice Committee.
In addition to her work with VDH, Dr. Davis also has strong ties both to the University of Vermont College of Medicine, and Fletcher Allen Health Care. She is a professor of pediatrics at UVM College of Medicine and is a former lecturer and instructor in pediatrics at Yale University. She has been an attending physician at Fletcher Allen since 1987, and was a member of the Fletcher Allen Health Care Board of Trustees from 2002 - 2006. She has served on the Vermont Childrens Hospital at Fletcher Allen Health Care Community Advisory Board since 2004.