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NEW CASTLE (June 22, 2022) – Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Molly Magarik today announced five leadership changes for the agency involving the Office of the Secretary and the Division of Public Health.
Dava Newnam, who has served as Associate Deputy Cabinet Secretary and Chief Operating Officer for DHSS, has been appointed as Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Special Populations, Strategic Planning and Innovation.
Newnam has held various roles in DHSS for 27 years. In January 2021, she was appointed Associate Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer of the department, with responsibility for managing a $ 3 billion budget and 3,500 employees. During his tenure, he led the consolidation of business operations at the departmental level under the Office of the Secretary, including procurement, accounts payable, accounts payable, grant administration and budget development, and helped organize DHSS’s first employee leadership academy. In her previous role as Director of the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities, she led more than 700 employees and was responsible for managing the Delaware State Hospital for the Chronically Ill in Izmir; community-facing units serving approximately 20,000 vulnerable Delaware people over the age of 60; and the Adult Protective Services unit, which protects vulnerable adults who are at risk of abuse, neglect or financial exploitation. He will start his new role on July 1st.
“Dava Newnam is a strong leader who has extensive knowledge of DHSS and the people we serve,” said Secretary Magarik. “As a former director of both the Division of Aging Services and Adults with Physical Disabilities and our Division of Management Services, I know that she understands the evolving needs of Delaware seniors and adults with disabilities and is strategic to prioritize and maximize the resources DHSS receives at both the state and federal levels. Dava has also worked at the forefront to reduce the staff shortage that DHSS is facing, especially in health care-related positions. “
Newnam replaces Sarah Noonan Davis, who has been Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Special Populations, Strategic Planning and Innovation since February 2021. During her tenure, Noonan Davis focused on special populations, as well as the strategic planning and innovative practices needed to move the department into the 21st century. He oversaw the divisions of Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, Developmental Disability and Visually Impaired Services, and the department’s three hospital facilities, the Stockley Center, Delaware Psychiatric Center and Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill. During his tenure, Noonan Davis’ achievements and contributions included overseeing the transition of services from one of the state’s largest providers of substance use disorder (SUD), mental health, and services for intellectual and developmental disabilities; leading continuous quality improvement initiatives at the Delaware Psychiatric Center and as part of the Psychiatric Residency program; oversee the implementation of the Homebound COVID-19 Vaccine program; and the alignment of initiatives and services between the DHSS divisions through the creation of the internal SUD working group and the subgroup Pregnant and postpartum people with SUD. His last day at DHSS will be June 30th.
“I am grateful to Sarah Noonan Davis for the energy, compassion and strategic thinking that led to her role as Deputy Cabinet Secretary,” said Secretary Magarik. “I know this has been a difficult decision for Sarah and join the other DHSS employees in wishing her the best in her efforts to come.”
Carla Mitchell-Penny, DHSS Director of Human Resources, has been appointed Chief of Staff in the Secretariat Office. He will work collaboratively with executive team members to determine and prioritize departmental strategies and goals, ensure consistent movement of departmental goals toward mission, and simplify and standardize day-to-day operations in the secretarial office. Mitchell-Penny replaces Michele Stant, who left to become head of financial management in the division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance. Mitchell-Penny began her new role on June 21.
In addition to the announcement of the deputy secretary and chief of staff in the secretary’s office, Secretary Magarik also announced temporary changes in leadership at the division of public health:
Dr. Rick Hong, who has held various executive roles in the Division of Public Health (DPH) for the past 15 years, has been appointed interim Director of the Division of Public Health as of July 1. Dr. Hong will lead the division temporarily during the search to find a replacement for the director of the outgoing DPH, Dr. Karyl Rattay. Dr. Rattay will leave DPH at the end of June after more than 13 years of leading the Delaware public health team and serving the people of Delaware.
Dr. Hong, who served during much of the COVID-19 pandemic as Medical Director at DPH, is currently serving as Medical Director for Emergency Medical Services and DPH Preparedness Section.
“I am grateful to Dr. Hong, who has so much experience with the Division of Public Health programs and especially his response to COVID-19, for taking on this additional role,” said Secretary Magarik. “Having him lead the division until we can find a doctor to lead the DPH means that all of our programs there, including the COVID response, are in very good hands.”
Jamie Mack, who held various positions at the DPH during his 18 years with the agency, has been appointed acting deputy director, effective July 1. After working in the Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention and Community Environmental Health programs, Mack joined the Director of Office as the DPH Policy Lead in 2015. He completed his Masters in Public Administration while working as the Division’s liaison with the General Assembly, supporting political efforts across a wide range of public health priorities. Mack returned to his roots in December 2017, assuming the role of Head of the Section for Health Systems Protection and serving as the state director of environmental health for Delaware. He lives in Magnolia, with his wife, son and daughter.
Steven Blessing, who served for 10 years as head of the DPH’s Department of Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness, has been appointed Acting Deputy Director in charge of the State Health Operations Center (SHOC), effective July 1. SHOC oversees the COVID-19 response in Delaware and other public health emergencies. Blessing has held other leadership roles in the DPH over the past 28 years, including Director of Emergency Medical Services, Paramedic Administrator, and Executive Assistant to the Director of Public Health. Prior to his work with DPH, he was an investment banker with Dean Witter Reynolds and served eight years as an officer in the United States Army. Blessing holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Delaware and a master’s degree from Webster University in Webster Groves, Missouri.
Mack and Blessing are replacing Deputy Director Crystal Webb, who will also leave DPH at the end of June after 13 years as Deputy Director.
The Department of Health and Social Services, with approximately 3,500 employees, is responsible for meeting the health and social service needs of Delawareans by promoting health and well-being, promoting self-sufficiency and protecting vulnerable populations.
Related Topics: DHSS Secretary Molly Magarik, leadership
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NEW CASTLE (June 22, 2022) – Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Molly Magarik today announced five leadership changes for the agency involving the Office of the Secretary and the Division of Public Health.
Dava Newnam, who has served as Associate Deputy Cabinet Secretary and Chief Operating Officer for DHSS, has been appointed as Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Special Populations, Strategic Planning and Innovation.
Newnam has held various roles in DHSS for 27 years. In January 2021, she was appointed Associate Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer of the department, with responsibility for managing a $ 3 billion budget and 3,500 employees. During his tenure, he led the consolidation of business operations at the departmental level under the Office of the Secretary, including procurement, accounts payable, accounts payable, grant administration and budget development, and helped organize DHSS’s first employee leadership academy. In her previous role as Director of the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities, she led more than 700 employees and was responsible for managing the Delaware State Hospital for the Chronically Ill in Izmir; community-facing units serving approximately 20,000 vulnerable Delaware people over the age of 60; and the Adult Protective Services unit, which protects vulnerable adults who are at risk of abuse, neglect or financial exploitation. He will start his new role on July 1st.
“Dava Newnam is a strong leader who has extensive knowledge of DHSS and the people we serve,” said Secretary Magarik. “As a former director of both the Division of Aging Services and Adults with Physical Disabilities and our Division of Management Services, I know that she understands the evolving needs of Delaware seniors and adults with disabilities and is strategic to prioritize and maximize the resources DHSS receives at both the state and federal levels. Dava has also worked at the forefront to reduce the staff shortage that DHSS is facing, especially in health care-related positions. “
Newnam replaces Sarah Noonan Davis, who has been Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Special Populations, Strategic Planning and Innovation since February 2021. During her tenure, Noonan Davis focused on special populations, as well as the strategic planning and innovative practices needed to move the department into the 21st century. He oversaw the divisions of Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, Developmental Disability and Visually Impaired Services, and the department’s three hospital facilities, the Stockley Center, Delaware Psychiatric Center and Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill. During his tenure, Noonan Davis’ achievements and contributions included overseeing the transition of services from one of the state’s largest providers of substance use disorder (SUD), mental health, and services for intellectual and developmental disabilities; leading continuous quality improvement initiatives at the Delaware Psychiatric Center and as part of the Psychiatric Residency program; oversee the implementation of the Homebound COVID-19 Vaccine program; and the alignment of initiatives and services between the DHSS divisions through the creation of the internal SUD working group and the subgroup Pregnant and postpartum people with SUD. His last day at DHSS will be June 30th.
“I am grateful to Sarah Noonan Davis for the energy, compassion and strategic thinking that led to her role as Deputy Cabinet Secretary,” said Secretary Magarik. “I know this has been a difficult decision for Sarah and join the other DHSS employees in wishing her the best in her efforts to come.”
Carla Mitchell-Penny, DHSS Director of Human Resources, has been appointed Chief of Staff in the Secretariat Office. He will work collaboratively with executive team members to determine and prioritize departmental strategies and goals, ensure consistent movement of departmental goals toward mission, and simplify and standardize day-to-day operations in the secretarial office. Mitchell-Penny replaces Michele Stant, who left to become head of financial management in the division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance. Mitchell-Penny began her new role on June 21.
In addition to the announcement of the deputy secretary and chief of staff in the secretary’s office, Secretary Magarik also announced temporary changes in leadership at the division of public health:
Dr. Rick Hong, who has held various executive roles in the Division of Public Health (DPH) for the past 15 years, has been appointed interim Director of the Division of Public Health as of July 1. Dr. Hong will lead the division temporarily during the search to find a replacement for the director of the outgoing DPH, Dr. Karyl Rattay. Dr. Rattay will leave DPH at the end of June after more than 13 years of leading the Delaware public health team and serving the people of Delaware.
Dr. Hong, who served during much of the COVID-19 pandemic as Medical Director at DPH, is currently serving as Medical Director for Emergency Medical Services and DPH Preparedness Section.
“I am grateful to Dr. Hong, who has so much experience with the Division of Public Health programs and especially his response to COVID-19, for taking on this additional role,” said Secretary Magarik. “Having him lead the division until we can find a doctor to lead the DPH means that all of our programs there, including the COVID response, are in very good hands.”
Jamie Mack, who held various positions at the DPH during his 18 years with the agency, has been appointed acting deputy director, effective July 1. After working in the Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention and Community Environmental Health programs, Mack joined the Director of Office as the DPH Policy Lead in 2015. He completed his Masters in Public Administration while working as the Division’s liaison with the General Assembly, supporting political efforts across a wide range of public health priorities. Mack returned to his roots in December 2017, assuming the role of Head of the Section for Health Systems Protection and serving as the state director of environmental health for Delaware. He lives in Magnolia, with his wife, son and daughter.
Steven Blessing, who served for 10 years as head of the DPH’s Department of Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness, has been appointed Acting Deputy Director in charge of the State Health Operations Center (SHOC), effective July 1. SHOC oversees the COVID-19 response in Delaware and other public health emergencies. Blessing has held other leadership roles in the DPH over the past 28 years, including Director of Emergency Medical Services, Paramedic Administrator, and Executive Assistant to the Director of Public Health. Prior to his work with DPH, he was an investment banker with Dean Witter Reynolds and served eight years as an officer in the United States Army. Blessing holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Delaware and a master’s degree from Webster University in Webster Groves, Missouri.
Mack and Blessing are replacing Deputy Director Crystal Webb, who will also leave DPH at the end of June after 13 years as Deputy Director.
The Department of Health and Social Services, with approximately 3,500 employees, is responsible for meeting the health and social service needs of Delawareans by promoting health and well-being, promoting self-sufficiency and protecting vulnerable populations.
Related Topics: DHSS Secretary Molly Magarik, leadership
Keep up to date by receiving a daily summary email, around noon, of current press release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.
Here you can subscribe for future news updates.
