Mapp Officially Nominates Dr. Michelle Davis As Commissioner Of Health

ST. THOMAS — Dr. Michelle S. Davis, who is on loan to the territory from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, has been formally nominated by Governor Kenneth Mapp to serve as the next Virgin Islands Commissioner of Health, Government House has said.

Dr. Davis, now serving as commissioner designee, must be confirmed by the 31st Legislature.

Her official appointment was slightly delayed by the need for legislation signed into law last week to facilitate the transfer of  federal employees to the local government. Her appointment letter was forwarded to Senate President Neville James on Tuesday, according to the release.

Mr. Mapp said Dr. Davis, an epidemiologist by training, has the medical and administrative background required to manage the territory’s health operations. He said that she was familiar with the territory’s challenges as the commissioner designee, has previously worked in the Virgin Islands in her federal capacity as Deputy Regional Health Administrator for the mid-Atlantic region.

Dr. Davis will serve as Health  commissioner for two years under the agreement with the federal government. The governor anticipates the partnership will be very beneficial to the Virgin Islands, particularly in the area of efficient and effective use of federal funds.

“Even prior to assuming her post, Dr. Davis assumed a leadership role in combating the Zika virus locally and her experience in the matter of disease control and prevention is invaluable as we work to avoid a significant outbreak,” Mr. Mapp said.

Dr. Davis has worked as a public health professional in a variety of positions at the federal, state and municipal levels.  This included the deputy secretary for Health for the Pennsylvania Department of Health.  Before working with Pennsylvania, she held positions as deputy Health commissioner for Policy and Planning with the city of Philadelphia and senior epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Davis has also held positions with the states of South Carolina, Indiana and New York and at the local level with the City of Detroit and with the District of Columbia as a C.D.C. federal assignee.

Dr. Davis completed her undergraduate studies in biology at the University of Michigan. She continued her education at the University of South Carolina, Johns Hopkins and the University of North Carolina where she majored in epidemiology for her graduate degrees.