Coben Stepping Down as Interim Secretary of W.Va. DHHR; Dr. Sherri Young To Step Up
CHARLESTON -- More than six months after taking the temporary helm of one of West Virginia's largest agencies, Dr. Jeffrey Coben will step down from the Department of Health and Human Services as the department prepares to split into three.
Gov. Jim Justice announced Thursday afternoon that Coben, DHHR interim cabinet secretary, will depart the agency effective Wednesday.
"Dr. Coben has done a tremendous job heading up DHHR and assisting through the many facets of the upcoming transition to three new departments," Justice said in a prepared statement. "I ask all West Virginians to join me in thanking him for his service to our state."
Coben was appointed as interim cabinet Secretary in December following the resignation of Bill Crouch. Coben, the associate vice president for health affairs at West Virginia University and dean of the School of Public Health, will return full-time to his work at WVU.
"As he resumes his duties as the associate vice president for health affairs and dean of the School of Public Health at West Virginia University, I am also thankful for his continued leadership and vision on behalf of the people of West Virginia," Justice said.
Coben took the helm of DHHR at a turbulent time for the agency that included more than $7.5 billion in combined state and federal funding, a massive workforce, and responsibility for tackling the state's major healthcare problems and social issues.
DHHR had just undergone a $1 million review that resulted in an organizational assessment and strategic plan while the Republican-led Legislature was more inclined to split the department up.
DHHR has fought an uphill battle with the state's systemic poverty level, poor public health outcomes, record-breaking substance use and drug overdose deaths, large numbers of children in in-state and out-of-state foster care, and allegations of abuse and neglect at state-run hospitals. The department has also been on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
House Bill 2006, relating to reorganizing DHHR, was passed by the Legislature during the 2023 regular session and signed into law by Justice. The bill went into effect in May. HB 2006 terminates DHHR and splits it into three new departments effective Jan. 1, 2024 -- the Department of Health, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Health Facilities.
The new cabinet secretaries for the three departments would report directly to the governor. While independent of each other, the three departments will share one central Office of Shared Administration for administrative support services similar to the current structure of the departments of Commerce, Tourism and Economic Development.
Justice announced the three new cabinet secretaries in May. Dr. Sherri Young will lead the Department of Health, Dr. Cynthia Persily will head the Department of Human Services and Michael Caruso will head the Department of Health Facilities.
In his press release Thursday, Justice announced that Young will serve as interim DHHR secretary until DHHR is split into three next year. Young served as the county health officer and executive director of the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department from 2019 to 2021. Most recently, Young worked at the Charleston Area Medical Center as an associate chief medical officer and clinical leader for the CAMC Health Network. She was previously the state's immunization officer.
"Having the opportunity to help shape the future of public health for West Virginia is an honor," Young said. "I want to thank Gov. Justice for this incredible opportunity and I look forward to working together closely with Secretary Persily and Secretary Caruso as we support and protect the health of our West Virginia citizens."
The new Department of Human Services would oversee the bureaus for Social Services, Medical Services, Child Support Enforcement, Family Assistance and Behavioral Health.
The Department of Health would oversee the Bureau for Public Health, the Health Care Authority, the Center for Threat Preparedness and the offices of Emergency Medical Services, the Chief Medical Examiner and the Office of Inspector General.
The Department of Health Facilities would oversee all DHHR-owned hospitals, including Hopemont Hospital, Jackie Withrow Hospital, John Manchin Sr. Health Care Center, Lakin Hospital, Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Hospital, Welch Community Hospital and William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital.
The bill also provides greater autonomy to the Office of Inspector General, making it an office appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate with a five-year term limit. The new departments are required to cooperate with the Office of Inspector General which has subpoena power. While previously included within the Department of Human Services, a bill passed in this year's session by the House would make the Office of Drug Control Policy an agency within the Governor's Office.