Gov.-Elect Shapiro Nominates Dr. Debra Bogen As PA Health Secretary

HARRISBURG, PA — Governor-elect Josh Shapiro on Wednesday nominated Allegheny County Health Director Dr. Debra Bogen to be the state's next health secretary.

Shapiro announced Bogen's nomination along with four other appointments.

"We all deserve access to quality, affordable health care – and these five leaders will help us deliver it for every community," Shapiro said on social media.

Bogen was confirmed by the county board of health in March 2020. She helped coordinate the county's efforts to coordinate a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before her appointment, she was a member of the Pittsburgh region medical and research community for more than two decades.

Bogen held a primary academic appointment as professor of pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh, and secondary appointments in psychiatry and clinical and translational science. She also served as the vice chair of education for the Department of Pediatrics at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

“We are so proud of Dr. Bogen and thrilled to see this next step in her extraordinary career," Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said 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."

Fitzgerald did not indicate who will be Bogen's county replacement.