Ohio Health Department Names Medical Director

[June 19, 2019]

Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Amy Acton, MD, announced the appointment last week of Mark Hurst, MD, to the position of medical director.

Hurst joins ODH from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OMHAS), where he worked for more than 26 years. While at OMHAS, he served as the clinical lead for the department, including the supervision and leadership of Ohio’s six regional psychiatric hospitals and all drug and alcohol recovery services in the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections.

“Dr. Hurst brings a wealth of knowledge and medical expertise to ODH,” Acton said. “His experience working in mental health and addiction services will be invaluable to our agency."

According to Acton, Hurst will spearhead an increased emphasis on behavioral health to the broader health care system, as well as tackle other important public health issues such as the opioid crisis, suicide prevention, infant mortality, health disparities and the impact of trauma.

Hurst is a native of Zanesville and a graduate of Muskingum College and the Medical College of Ohio. He completed his medical residency at the University of Michigan and The Ohio State University.

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