Allegheny County health director Bogen nominated for Pa. health secretary

One of Allegheny County’s public health leaders could be getting a promotion as Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro on Wednesday nominated Allegheny County Health Department Director Dr. Debra Bogen for Pennsylvania’s secretary of Health.

The cabinet position is the top public health official in the state, and is responsible for statewide health initiatives and regulations. The position has garnered additional prestige, as well as come under more scrutiny, since the covid-19 pandemic hit.

Shapiro said that Bogen, along with his other health related nominees, are “qualified public servants who are passionate about public health and ready to get to work on day one.”

Bogen took the county position during the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, replacing Dr. Karen Hacker.

Bogen said the health of Pennsylvanians is critical to the state’s success, and she is grateful to be nominated. She said her experience in Allegheny County prepared her for the job.

“In Allegheny County, we’ve brought people together to expand access to clinical care, advocate for family and child health, and protect the most vulnerable. I am excited to advance the Shapiro Administration’s agenda and to make evidence-informed decisions to improve the health and well-being of all of our residents.”

As the county’s health director, Bogen also oversaw the creation and implementation of paid sick time regulation.

Before joining Allegheny County, Bogen had a two-decade career in medical research. She was a professor at the University of Pittsburgh and served as vice chair of education for the Department of Pediatrics at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

She received her medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine and completed both her pediatric residency and General Academic Pediatrics fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald lauded Bogen for her accomplishments in the region, including decreasing air pollution, receiving federal grant funding that has allowed for additional opioid surveillance, making food safety inspections online, piloting at-home STD testing for residents, along with her coordinated response to the covid-19 pandemic.

“We are so proud of Dr. Bogen and thrilled to see this next step in her extraordinary career,’ said Fitzgerald in a statement. “We have been fortunate to have her serve the residents of Allegheny County for the last nearly three years and look forward to all that she will do on behalf of the entire Commonwealth’s residents.”

Her salary with the county started out at $250,000.

The salary of the current Acting Health Secretary Denise Johnson is $170,465. Bogen’s new salary has not yet been revealed.

Bogen was nominated along with Dr. Val Arkoosh for secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Dr. Latika Davis-Jones for secretary of Drug and Alcohol Programs, Jason Kavulich for secretary of Aging, and Mike Humphreys for insurance commissioner.

Pennsylvania governor cabinet nominations must be approved by the state Senate.