BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont’s health commissioner is stepping down. The governor announced on Friday that Dr. Mark Levine will retire at the end of March.
Levine was appointed by Gov. Phil Scott to lead the Vermont Health Department in 2017, making him one of the administration’s longest-tenured commissioners.
Levine became a familiar face to Vermonters during the COVID pandemic, often standing by the governor’s side during news briefings, helping to shepherd the state through the trials and tribulations of the pandemic.
During his tenure, he also focused on critical public health initiatives, including drug use and overdose prevention, nurse visitation programs and emergency preparedness.
In a statement, Levine said serving in the position has been a career and life-changing opportunity.
“The work we do is so meaningful, challenging, necessary, and gratifying. While proud of our accomplishments, none of them would have been possible without the professional, dedicated, resilient, and passionate team at the Department of Health. They join me each day in enthusiastically getting up for work and striving to honor and accomplish the mission of the department,” he said.
The governor called Levine a tremendous asset to the state and wished him well.
“Dr. Levine has been a tremendous asset, to not only me, but the entire State of Vermont. I know this decision weighed heavily on him, as he deeply loves helping others, which was apparent throughout his career in medicine as well as his last eight years in public service,” Scott, R-Vermont, said in a statement. “I will be forever grateful for his advice and counsel over the years, but especially during the pandemic, as he appeared with me daily at press conferences during those difficult days, giving much comfort to Vermonters as our very own “Country Doc.” I wish him well in the next chapter of his life.”
“I think he was a source of leadership and comfort for Vermonters. They really trusted him and he was like their local doctor, personal physician even though he was communicating through the TV. But he was also a source of leadership and comfort for those of us serving alongside him,” said Mike Pieciak, D-Vt. Treasurer.
Levine’s retirement comes as the Trump administration is set to take a different approach to public health under Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
There’s no word yet on who will replace Levine as health commissioner.