Sherri Young Steps Down Amid Administration Transition

Newly inaugurated Gov. Patrick Morrisey appointed Dr. Arvin Singh to lead the Department of Health (DH) under his administration.

“I want to thank Dr. Sherri Young for her long-standing public service and dedication to improving the health and well-being of West Virginians, ” Morrisey said. “As we look to the future, I am confident that Dr. Arvin Singh will continue this important work with excellence. His extensive experience and vision for healthcare will ensure West Virginia remains a leader in public health. I am excited to support Dr. Singh in his new role and look forward to the continued progress our state will make under his leadership.”

Outgoing Cabinet Secretary Sherri Young expressed her gratitude to the people of West Virginia and her staff.

Before serving as a cabinet secretary, Young was a leading figure in West Virginia’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic as the director of the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department. In a Friday afternoon press release, Young reflected on her time as secretary.

“It has truly been an honor to serve as cabinet secretary and work alongside such a dedicated team of professionals. I am incredibly proud of everything we have accomplished together, and I am deeply grateful for the trust and support of the people of West Virginia,” said Young. “A job is just that, a job. Regardless of a title, I will always carry the health and wellbeing of West Virginians in my heart. It doesn’t matter if I’m in a clinic, a hospital, an office, or going door-to-door, I will always serve the great people of West Virginia when and where they need me.”

Young oversaw her department through the legislature’s 2023 split of the then Department of Health and Human Resources and restructuring.

She highlighted communications improvements among key offices in the department like the Bureau for Public Health, the Center for Threat Preparedness, the Office of Emergency Medical Services and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Young also served as secretary during the overhaul of West Virginia’s grant management process, allowing for more streamlined funding.

During her tenure, the state initiated new protocols to improve trauma survival rates in rural areas and was instrumental in the “Answer the Call” initiative which aimed to expand EMS training and workforce capacity in the state.

According to the release, the initiative resulted in a 75% increase in certified EMS professionals across the state.

“I am proud of the progress we’ve made in expanding access to emergency medical services, enhancing trauma care, and making West Virginia a leader in public health initiatives,” Young said. “None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary efforts of our dedicated staff, who continuously go above and beyond to improve the health and well-being of our fellow West Virginians.”

West Virginia’s new DH Secretary’s experience and education spans the U.S., with multiple advanced degrees from George Washington University, Penn State University, Brown University and Nebraska Methodist College.

Some of Singh’s degrees include master’s degrees in Public Health, Business Administration, Science in Healthcare Leadership and a Doctorate in Education with a focus on healthcare leadership.

“I am deeply grateful to Governor Morrisey for the opportunity to serve as Secretary of Health for West Virginia,” Singh said. “I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Dr. Young for her service and leadership, which have left a lasting impact. I am excited to work alongside dedicated professionals to help shape the department’s future and enhance the health and well-being of all West Virginians.”

In a release announcing various cabinet appointments, Morrisey’s office said Singh combines a deep understanding of healthcare operations with insights into federal policy from his internships with the U.S. House of Representatives, the Executive Office of the President and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Singh has previously served as the vice president of strategy and communications for the University of Maryland Shore Regional Health, chief operating officer for a Louisiana-based behavioral health network and Federally Qualified Health Center.