Politics
Politics

Gov. Deal picks interim Georgia public health director

Dr. J. Patrick O’Neal, director of Health Protection at the Georgia Department of Public Health, has been chosen to replace DPH Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald, who was appointed by President Trump to run the CDC. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM
Dr. J. Patrick O’Neal, director of Health Protection at the Georgia Department of Public Health, has been chosen to replace DPH Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald, who was appointed by President Trump to run the CDC. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM
By James Salzer
July 7, 2017

Dr. J. Patrick O’Neal was appointed interim commissioner of the state’s Department of Public Health Friday by Gov. Nathan Deal.

O'Neal, director of Health Protection for the agency, was named to replace DPH Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald, who was appointed by President Trump to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

Dr. Fitzgerald has led the public health agency since 2001. She had previously served on the state Board of Education and as a health care advisor to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and the late-Sen. Paul Coverdell.

O’Neal has overseen more than a dozen public health programs at DPH, including epidemiology, infectious disease, immunization, emergency preparedness efforts and the Georgia Public Health Lab. He previously practiced emergency medicine for 29 years at DeKalb Medical Center.

About the Author

James Salzer has covered state government and politics in Georgia since 1990. He previously covered politics and government in Texas and Florida. He specializes in government finance, budgets, taxes, campaign finance, ethics and legislative history

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