COLUMBUS – Governor Mike DeWine Thursday announced the appointment of Stephanie McCloud to the post of director of the Ohio Department of Health, filling a vacancy created when Dr. Amy Acton stepped down in June.
The appointment comes as the coronavirus rages in the state.
A Truro Township trustee and member of the Maryhaven board of directors, McCloud has been the administrator of the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation since 2019 and DeWine says she brings the administrative experience needed to help guide the state through the “most dangerous phase” of the COVID-19 pandemic as the state experiences a surge of cases.
He also appointed Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff as the agency’s chief medical officer. Vanderhoff previously served for more than a decade as a Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at OhioHealth.
Lance Himes, who has been serving as interim director since Acton’s departure, will be the agency’s senior deputy director, leading the coordination of the state’s vaccine distribution plan while continuing to work directly with Ohio’s local health commissioners.
Kathleen Madden, assistant director at the Ohio Office of Budget and Management, will be the agency’s new chief of staff.