Gov. Larry Hogan has nominated Dennis Schrader as secretary of Maryland Department of Health (MDH). Schrader has been serving as the acting secretary of health since former Secretary Robert Neall retired Dec. 1.
According to a news release from the Maryland Department of Health, Schrader previously served as acting health secretary in 2017. From January 2018 to December 2020, he also served as deputy secretary for healthcare financing and chief operating officer.
“I am honored and humbled that Governor Hogan has put forth my nomination to lead MDH during these challenging times,” Schrader said in a statement. “Clearly my primary focus continues to be steering MDH through the COVID-19 crisis and getting as many Marylanders vaccinated as possible. We remain committed to protecting the public health of all Marylanders.”
Before working for MDH, Schrader has five decades of service. He’s worked as a U.S. Navy Captain with responsibilities at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He’s worked as deputy administrator of FEMA as well as director of the Maryland Office of Homeland Security. He spent 16 years at the University of Maryland Medical System, where he focused on hospital operations and major project developments.
"My primary focus continues to be steering MDH through the COVID-19 crisis and getting as many Marylanders vaccinated as possible," said Schrader.
In addition to the nomination of Schrader, MDH announced the appointment of Atif Chaudhry as MDH Deputy Secretary of Operations.
— Maryland Department of Health (@MDHealthDept) January 13, 2021
MDH also announced that Atif Chaudhry has been appointed its deputy secretary of operations, where he will oversee MDH Hospital System, Office of Facilities Management and Development, Office of Preparedness and Response, Office of Safety and Secured Transport, and Office of Procurement and Support Services.
Chaudhry had been serving as acting secretary of operations since August 2020 after Gregg Todd left the department. Chaudhry also worked as director of the Office of Facilities Management and Development since 2017.
“I look forward to the ongoing challenge of supporting the Department’s operational and logistical COVID-19 response,” said Chaudhry said in a statement. “We have all been tested beyond anything we could have imagined during the past year, but I am honored to be given the opportunity to continue serving the residents of Maryland in this critical mission.”
