The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has announced the appointment of Dr. Lawrence Greenblatt as the new State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer, an appointment set to start next Monday. Greenblatt, a seasoned physician and professor, is lauded for his commitment to comprehensive care encompassing both mental health and addiction services, alongside his influence in enhancing medical education.
"Dr. Greenblatt is an innovator and public health advocate with a long track record of increasing access to mental and physical health care in North Carolina," NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai said, reflecting on the appointment Greenblatt's experience includes a lengthy tenure with the Duke University Health System, where his work in integrating behavioral health services into primary care has earned acclaim within and beyond the academic field, as per NCDHHS.
A figure not unknown to the challenges of public health, Dr. Greenblatt managed Duke’s Medicaid Network since 2008, advancing from the Northern Piedmont Community Care to overseeing the well-coordinated network under Medicaid transformation in 2021. According to an announcement by NCDHHS, this network has effectively supported 100,000 Medicaid enrollees and numerous practices.
Reflecting on his appointment, Dr. Greenblatt told NCDHHS, "I am honored to be chosen for this important role in improving the health and well-being of the more than 11 million North Carolinians that call this great state home," he understands the integral value of accessible healthcare for every individual, thus his advocacy extends beyond his clinical practice into several leadership roles in initiatives including progressive policy-making in opioid prescribing and addiction treatment.
In addition to serving as Chair of the NC Medicaid Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Secretary of the NC Medicaid Physician Advisory Group Dr. Greenblatt co-led the Durham Crisis Collaborative and has been deeply involved in local planning efforts targeting substance use and mental health challenges, according to the information laid out by the state health department's formal notification.
