Montco Names New Health Director After National Search

NORRISTOWN, PA — A national search has ended in the appointment of a new director of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services.

County commissioners announced that Dr. Tamra Williams, formerly the head of the Philadelphia-based behaviorial health organization Community Behavioral Health, will lead the county's largest department and some 500 public employees.

“I am pleased to welcome Dr. Williams to the County and I look forward to working with her to oversee programs and services helping some of our most vulnerable residents,” Montgomery County Commissioner's Chair Ken Lawrence said in a statement. "Her practical training and experience have already been a valuable asset to our senior leadership team."

Williams oversaw initiatives on population health and health equity and integated care at CBH. The county cited her experience in large scale program design and cooridinating cross agency and departmental collaboration as things that stood out in her 15 years of public service.

Williams has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of South Florida, and completed pre-doctoral training at Yale University's School of Medicine. Her post-doctoral training was done within Yale's Division of Law & Psychiatry.

As head of the county's health department, Williams will oversee COVID-19 response and vaccinations, other public healht initiatives, the offices dedicated to children, drugs and alcohol, veterans affairs, and seniors, as well as mental health, developmental disabilities, and community connections.