Pa. Senate confirms Secretary of Health appointment

Harrisburg, Pa. — After two years as serving as Acting Secretary of Health, Dr. Debra L. Bogen has been confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate as Secretary of the Department of Health.

Prior to this appointment, Dr. Bogen had over 30 years of experience as a primary care pediatrician and headed the Allegheny County Health Department for just under three years.

Since her appointment as Acting Secretary of Health, Dr. Bogen traveled across Pennsylvania to speak directly with health professionals, stakeholders, and legislators to receive feedback about public health priorities and challenges.

In her time as Acting Secretary, Dr. Bogen also created the Long-Term Care Transformation Office; created the Division of Maternal Health Services; helped to launch a $1 million tuition assistance program to train, recruit, and retain EMS professionals; led Pennsylvania's public health response to the Norfolk Southern train disaster in East Palestine, Ohio; took formal action to limit access to the dangerous animal tranquilizer xylazine; and worked with WIC to establish mobile clinics.

“I look forward to continuing to focus on improving health and wellness of Pennsylvanians and working with the incredible team of public health professionals at the Department of Health and in collaboration with our sister state agencies,” Secretary Bogen commented.

Dr. Bogen was Director of the Allegheny County Health Department during the height of the COVID crisis. Before this, she was a member of the Pittsburgh region medical and research community for over 20 years. She held a primary academic appointment as Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh, and secondary appointments in psychiatry and clinical and translational science. Dr. Bogen also served as the Vice Chair of Education for the Department of Pediatrics at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Her clinical research focused on the impact of mental health and substance use on families.

Dr. Bogen earned her medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency and general academic pediatrics fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She was one of the founders of the Mid-Atlantic Mothers’ Milk Bank and served as the organization’s Volunteer Medical Director until assuming her role at the state.