Credit: PA Internet News Service
The acting head of the Pennsylvania Department of Health is leaving at the end of the year.
Acting Secretary Alison Beam, who took the post once former Secretary Rachel Levine was called up for federal service in January, will be leaving amid the pandemic and efforts to get more residents vaccinated.
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Beam, a lawyer who previously served as deputy chief of staff to Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, will be replaced as acting secretary by current Pennsylvania Department of Health Executive Deputy Secretary Keara Klinepeter.
“Thank you to Governor Wolf, his leadership team, and the incredibly dedicated Department of Health employees,” Beam said in a statement. “Serving as acting secretary during such a critical time in public health has been the most humbling honor of my career … I could not be prouder to have worked alongside such devoted public servants during my tenure with the Wolf Administration.”
The governor said he was proud to have worked with Beam, and he thanked her for her leadership during the pandemic.
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“Thank you, Acting Secretary Beam, for stepping up to serve the commonwealth during a difficult time. We will miss your leadership, your determination and your dedication to building healthier communities for all Pennsylvanians,” Wolf said.
Klinepeter has worked on rural health innovation and the response to the COVID-19 pandemic while with the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Prior to her state work, she worked for federally-funded research and development centers and also as a fellow at the Coro Center for Civic Engagement.
Credit: PA Internet News Service
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“I look forward to continuing to work closely with the tremendous employees at the Department of Health and ensuring public health remains a top priority throughout the commonwealth. I am honored for the opportunity to lead public health efforts during this critical time and to serve my fellow Pennsylvanians,” Klinepeter said.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health last week was front and center in a court fight over mask mandates for schools, which the administration lost. The health department has overseen the response to the pandemic that has killed 34,618 residents and has received both criticism and praise for its handling of it.
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