COLOMBIA, SC (WCSC) – The South Carolina Senate confirmed Dr. Edward Simmer as the new director of the state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control on Thursday morning.
Governor Henry McMaster issued a statement about Simmer’s confirmation:
Dr. Simmer has a lifetime of experience in leading large and complex medical organizations and has successfully brought about positive changes everywhere he has been. He clearly has all the professional qualifications and leadership skills needed to lead the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The people of South Carolina will be well served with your confirmation.
Senators voted 40-1 to confirm Simmer to lead the agency.
“It is an honor to be called to serve the state that I proudly call home during this moment unparalleled in the history of our state and the nation,” said Simmer. “DHEC’s mission to protect and promote public health and the environment on behalf of all South Carolina residents is something I take very seriously. From the front line to our living rooms, COVID-19 challenged us all. We made sacrifices and lost loved ones. However, together with the agency team and our many partners, I am confident that we will overcome this and come back stronger than before. I look forward to serving alongside DHEC’s amazing team of employees and looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting to work. “
It will be the first time in 41 years that a doctor will head the state health department.
“We are grateful to the Senate for confirming Dr. Simmer at the helm of the South Carolina environmental and public health agency during the state’s unprecedented response to COVID-19,” said DHEC chairman Mark Elam. “Dr. Simmer brings with him a wealth of executive management and medical experience in the field throughout his naval career of more than 30 years. His decision to continue his legacy of service in South Carolina reflects the core values of DHEC and its team of talented and dedicated employees. He is well positioned to provide the stable and capable leadership needed to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. “
DHEC has been operating without a permanent director for nearly eight months.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Simmer most recently served as Captain of the United States Navy, where he held growing leadership positions, including as Medical Director of the TRICARE Health Plan and Commanding Officer and CEO of the Naval Hospital in Oak Harbor Washington. He brings with him more than 25 years of vast experience in clinical leadership and team building with a strong history of transforming major healthcare systems.
He received his doctorate in medicine from Saint Louis University and holds a master’s degree in public health, with a focus on epidemiology, from the Eastern Virginia Medical School / Old Dominion University Consortium, as well as a Bachelor of Arts from Hiram College. In addition, Simmer is certified by the Council on General and Forensic Psychiatry by the American Council on Psychiatry and Neurology and holds a Certificate in Administrative Psychiatry from the American Psychiatric Association.
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