Outgoing Cabinet Secretary Dr. Sherri Young, DO, MBA, FAAFP, expressed her deep thanks to the people of West Virginia for the opportunity to head the Department of Health and commended her committed team for their relentless efforts to advance public health throughout the state. As she hands over leadership to Dr. Arvin Singh, Dr. Young looks on the department’s revolutionary successes under her leadership and the collaborative efforts that enabled them.
“It has been a true honor to serve as Cabinet Secretary and collaborate with such a dedicated team of professionals. “I am extremely proud of everything we have accomplished together, and I am deeply grateful for the trust and support of the people of West Virginia,” stated Dr. Young. “A job is exactly that: a job. Regardless of title, I will always have the health and well-being of West Virginians in my heart. I will always serve the great people of West Virginia when and where they need me, whether in a clinic, a hospital, an office, or going door-to-door.
During Dr. Young’s tenure, the West Virginia Department of Health underwent substantial changes, including a strategic restructure aimed at increasing efficiency and accountability. Key offices, including the Bureau for Public Health, the Center for Threat Preparedness, the Office of Emergency Medical Services, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, were brought together under a more direct reporting structure, allowing for faster, more effective responses to public health emergencies.
One of the department’s most important accomplishments was the redesign of the state’s grant administration procedure, which allowed for a more streamlined and effective method to allocating funds. In September 2024, 159 out of 265 SFY25 subrecipient awards were concluded with signed agreements, a significant increase from the previous year.
Dr. Young also spearheaded life-saving public health efforts, such as the development of a statewide whole blood routine, which made West Virginia one of the only states to do so, thereby boosting trauma survival rates in rural communities. The department’s “Answer the Call” project, which aimed to solve the EMS manpower shortfall, resulted in a 75% increase in certified EMS workers throughout 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,” according to Dr. Young. “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.”
Dr. Arvin Singh will now manage the Department of Health, bringing with him extensive experience in healthcare leadership, strategy, and operations. Dr. Singh has several advanced degrees, including a Master of Public Health (MPH) from George Washington University, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Penn State University, a Master of Science in Healthcare Leadership from Brown University, and a Doctorate in Education (EdD) from Nebraska Methodist College, with a concentration on healthcare leadership.
Dr. Singh has extensive experience in acute, behavioral, and ambulatory care, including roles as Vice President of Strategy and Communications for the University of Maryland Shore Regional Health and Chief Operating Officer for a Louisiana-based behavioral health network and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). His leadership experience is supplemented by internships in the United States House of Representatives, the Executive Office of the President, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which have provided him with a unique grasp of healthcare operations and federal policy.
“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,” Gov. Patrick Morrisey stated. “As we move ahead, I am convinced that Dr.
Arvin Singh will continue his critical work with distinction. His considerable knowledge and vision for healthcare will assure West Virginia’s continued leadership in public health. I am thrilled to support Dr. Singh in his new position and look forward to the continuous progress our state will achieve under his leadership.”
“I am deeply grateful to Governor Morrisey for the opportunity to serve as Secretary of Health for West Virginia,” said to Dr. Singh. “I’d also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Young for her dedication and leadership, which have had a lasting influence. I am thrilled to be working alongside devoted professionals to shape the department’s future and improve the health and well-being of all West Virginians.
Dr. Young also wished Dr. Singh all the best in his new position as Cabinet Secretary. “I am confident that Dr. Singh will continue the progress we have made and build upon it in meaningful ways,” Dr. Young told me. “I wish him every success in leading the Department of Health and advancing the health and well-being of all West Virginians.”
As the department transitions to new leadership, Dr. Singh and Governor Morrisey are dedicated to ensuring a smooth transition while also improving public health in West Virginia.
