BALTIMORE — Baltimore City Mayor Catherine Pugh has named a new health commissioner months after the previous one left.
Dr. Leana Wen left in October 2018, and now Dr. Letitia Dzirasa will be taking her place. Dr. Dzirasa got her bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and got a Doctorate of Medicine at Meharry Medical College.
After getting her doctorate, she worked as a resident at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and then worked as a general pediatrician at a primary care practice. After that Dr. Dzirasa stayed within the Baltimore Medical System, working as the Medical Director of Quality, Medical Director of School-Based Health, and most recently the Health Innovation Officer for Fearless Solutions.
As the Health Innovation Officer she led and provided the vision for their healthcare information technology practice, served as their business development team lead, and acted as the healthcare information technology account manager.
“We are fortunate to have attracted a candidate of Dr. Dzirasa’s caliber and broad experience to advance our agenda to improve the health prospects of all Baltimore residents,” said Mayor Catherine E. Pugh. “She will bring a commitment to reducing youth violence through evidence-based approaches, as well working to eliminate health disparities that persist, even while building on our progress to address the opioid epidemic and further improve access to critical care. We congratulate Dr. Dzirasa and assure her of our support as she takes up this vital role on behalf of Baltimore residents.”
