ST. PAUL, MN – Dr. Ed Ehlinger announced today that he will resign his position as Commissioner of Health, effective at the close of business Tuesday, December 19th. Commissioner Ehlinger has served the people of Minnesota at the Health Department since January 2011. Health Department Deputy Commissioner Dan Pollock will serve as acting Commissioner beginning today, and will serve in that role until a permanent replacement is appointed by Governor Mark Dayton. Governor Dayton, his Administration, and acting Commissioner Pollock are focused on supporting the Health Department’s efforts to improve the health of all Minnesotans, and immediately working to improve its efforts to protect seniors, and properly investigate allegations of maltreatment and abuse.

 

Governor Dayton thanked Commissioner Ehlinger for his service, and pledged his Administration’s continued commitment to improving the health and safety of all Minnesotans.

 

 

During his tenure as Commissioner of Health, Dr. Ehlinger made many great strides to improve the health and wellbeing of Minnesotans. Commissioner Ehlinger led the charge to reduce tobacco use, improve community-based health programs through the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP), improve health equity in our communities, and expand access to life-saving health care for Minnesotans. Dr. Ehlinger also helped lead the state through outbreaks of measles and avian influenza, and led the state’s response to the global threat of Ebola.

“It has been my great honor to serve the people of Minnesota,” said Dr. Ehlinger. “I am thankful to Governor Dayton for this opportunity to serve, and grateful to the many tremendous public health professionals at the Department for the work they do every day to improve the lives of Minnesotans. I am proud of the work we have done to make our state healthier, for all of us.”

 

Governor Dayton today reiterated his commitment to protecting Minnesota seniors, and other vulnerable adults. Several weeks ago, the Governor ordered that the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General provide the Health Department assistance in improving the management of its investigations of elder neglect and abuse. Those efforts are ongoing, and will supplement the Health Department’s efforts to hire additional investigators to improve the state’s investigations of elder abuse.

 

The Minnesota Department of Health is also working with MN.IT Services to implement a new time-saving, electronic records management system for the Office of Health Facility Complaints (OHFC), which will help Health Department investigators more quickly and effectively respond to allegations of elder maltreatment, abuse, and neglect.

 

Acting Commissioner Dan Pollock today expressed his strong commitment to immediately advancing the Health Department’s efforts to improve its management of these investigations. Pollock stressed that one of the Department’s highest priorities will be to ensure that all Minnesotans – especially the elderly and vulnerable – receive excellent care, and the Health Department’s full attention following any allegation of maltreatment, neglect, or abuse.

 

“We will do everything possible to ensure our parents, grandparents, and vulnerable loved ones get the excellent care they need, the safety they expect, and the justice they deserve,” said Pollock. “The hard-working women and men at the Health Department have devoted their careers to improving the health and safety of Minnesotans. I look forward to working with them to deliver even better care for all of us.”

 

In addition to the immediate work of improving investigation management at the Health Department, Governor Dayton and AARP Minnesota Director Will Philips recently announced a new work group that will provide guidance on steps the state should take to improve the health and safety of Minnesota seniors who are cared for in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The new, independent work group will be led and convened by the AARP, in conjunction with other organizations serving Minnesota seniors, and will provide its recommendations to state leaders ahead of the 2018 Legislative Session. To learn more about the work group, click here.

 

Dan Pollock was appointed in December 2014 to serve as Deputy Commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). In that role, Pollock has helped oversee the operations of the 1,400-employee Department, coordinating the work of all four of the agency’s Assistant Commissioners. Pollock has also been responsible for overseeing the Department’s legislative relations, legal, and communications staff.

 

Acting Commissioner Pollock is an attorney with over a decade of experience improving Minnesota's public health and health care systems in both the legislative and executive branches of state government. Prior to his service at the Health Department, Pollock served as a senior aide to House Majority Leader Erin Murphy, as the chief health and human services policy advisor to Governor Mark Dayton, and as Legislative Director at the Minnesota Department of Human Services. He has also served in several health policy roles in the Minnesota House of Representatives and for the Governor of New Jersey.

 

Pollock earned his bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College and his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

 

Minnesota’s public health system is known as one of the best in the nation. It is built upon a strong partnership between the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), local public health agencies, tribal governments, and a range of other organizations. The Minnesota Department of Health’s mission is to protect, maintain, and improve the health of all Minnesotans. The Department employs 1,500 public health professionals, who work every day to ensure the health and safety of our state. To learn more about the Health Department and its mission, click here.