A longtime public health official and researcher who vowed to fight “misinformation from Washington” is Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill’s pick to run the New Jersey Department of Health.
Raynard E. Washington leaves his job as health director in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina’s most populous county, to run the state Department of Health, according to Sherrill’s announcement Thursday.
He was also the Chief Epidemiologist and Deputy Health Commissioner in Philadelphia from 2017 to 2020.
Sherrill called him “a lifetime public servant.”
“Dr. Washington will be essential in keeping our state healthy and safe. At a time when Trump and RFK Jr. are rewriting longstanding guidelines and undermining trust in medical care, it is critical New Jersey have experienced leadership to keep us healthy,” Sherrill’s announcement said.
In a joint statement, Washington said he was up to the challenge.
“While Washington is attacking our public health institutions, New Jersey must do everything we can to protect the public’s health and safety, including providing reliable medical information, based in science,” his statement said.
Amid substantial changes in federal vaccine policy, New Jersey is now a member of the new Northeast Public Health Collaborative to assess scientific guidance and make recommendations.
On Monday, the collaborative released a statement rejecting the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recent changes to the childhood immunization schedule. It will continue to support the American Academy of Pediatrics’ childhood vaccine schedule, the announcement said.
If confirmed by the state Senate, Washington would replace Jeff Brown, who has served as acting health commissioner since April under Gov. Phil Murphy.
Washington earned a bachelor of science degree, a master’s in Public Health and a Ph.D. in epidemiology all from the University of Pittsburgh.
He served as a health research scientist for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Healthcare from 2012 to 2015. He was also an adjunct professor at Temple University from 2019 to 2020, American University from 2015 to 2017 and the Kaplan University School of Health Sciences from 2013 to 2016.
NJ Advance Media Staff Writer Jackie Roman contributed to this story.