Dr. Mark Levine, Vermont’s Health Commissioner, plans to step down on Friday, April 4.
In 2017, Dr. Levine was selected by Governor Phil Scott for his position. Among the administrators, he has been one of the commissioners with the longest tenure.
Dr. Levine mentions that it hasn’t quite sunk in yet for him that he will be leaving his position shortly.
“Both nationally and locally, public health remains an ongoing concern. There’s constantly new developments keeping me quite engaged and busy. To be frank, it hasn’t completely hit home yet. However, as people start celebrating, and with my involvement in these festivities, I’m starting to realize that ‘yes, only a handful of days remain,’” stated Levine.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he rose to prominence across Vermont and within our broader area. Among Dr. Levine’s significant achievements with the Department of Health were his efforts on essential public health projects such as safeguarding children’s well-being via nurse home visits for new babies, decreasing lead poisoning risks, curbing substance abuse among teens—including drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and e-cigarettes—as well as tackling opioid overdoses and suicides. Additionally, he worked towards improving equality in healthcare access and enhancing readiness for emergencies like disease outbreaks, natural calamities, and possible biohazards.
Dr. Levine mentions that in the future, he aims to engage with public health initiatives but in a more relaxed role. For now though, he states that his immediate plans involve taking time to unwind and recharge.
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Dr. Mark Levine to step down as Vermont’s Health Commissioner
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