Changing of the guard at MD health department
Outgoing Maryland health secretary John Colmers was smiling broadly this afternoon as Gov. Martin O'Malley made the official announcement that his job would go to Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, the No. 2 official a the Food and Drug Administration and long-time ally of the governor.
O'Malley heaped praise on Colmers, saying he did an "outstanding job" and the four years he held the position "flew by." Colmers showed no regrets about his decision to leave, though said leading Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is "the best health job in Maryland."
Colmers plans to stay in Maryland and focus on health care reform. He told us he's "talking" to a few groups but won't say who.
O'Malley also introduced Sharfstein, 41, a man he first hired five years ago to be Baltimore's Health Commissioner. The two clearly like each other: O'Malley joked that Sharfstein is leaving his federal job to "round out his resume" with a state position. The governor also punted questions about potential cuts to agency's budget to Sharfstein who didn't say much about what could be sliced.
Plus the governor prompted Sharfstein to thank his wife and two young boys, who came to the Annapolis news conference. Sharfstein's parents, both doctors, also attended.
O'Malley heaped praise on Colmers, saying he did an "outstanding job" and the four years he held the position "flew by." Colmers showed no regrets about his decision to leave, though said leading Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is "the best health job in Maryland."
Colmers plans to stay in Maryland and focus on health care reform. He told us he's "talking" to a few groups but won't say who.
O'Malley also introduced Sharfstein, 41, a man he first hired five years ago to be Baltimore's Health Commissioner. The two clearly like each other: O'Malley joked that Sharfstein is leaving his federal job to "round out his resume" with a state position. The governor also punted questions about potential cuts to agency's budget to Sharfstein who didn't say much about what could be sliced.
Plus the governor prompted Sharfstein to thank his wife and two young boys, who came to the Annapolis news conference. Sharfstein's parents, both doctors, also attended.
