May 11, 2009

Karyl T. Rattay, MD, MS FAAP, FACPM Appointed Head of Public Health

DOVER -- Karyl T. Rattay, MD, MS FAAP, FACPM has been appointed as Director of the Division of Public Health.
 
“It is essential for the health of the State that we have in place a strong Public Health Director. Secretary Landgraf said. “Dr. Rattay will be an outstanding addition to our team. Her years in Delaware will allow her to hit the ground running and become a valuable asset not just to the Division of Public Health, but our entire department, as we work toward our mission of improving the quality of life for Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.”

Dr. Rattay, a board-certified pediatrician and preventive medicine specialist joins DHSS after leading the childhood obesity initiative for Nemours Health & Prevention Services since 2004.  Prior to that, she served as a Senior Public Health Advisor to the Surgeon General and Assistant Secretary of Health in the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C. Dr. Rattay was involved with the USDA/HHS Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee to revise the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.  She has also worked with the President’s Healthier U.S. Initiative and Secretary Thompson’s Steps to a Healthier U.S. Initiative.
 
“It is an honor to lead Delaware’s Division of Public Health and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve.” Dr. Rattay said. “My vision is that all Delawareans will have the ability and support to make healthy lifestyle choices, access to quality preventive and treatment services and are protected from harm.”
 
Dr. Rattay is an associate professor in the Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is also a medical graduate of the Medical College of Ohio and completed her pediatric training at Georgetown University. Dr. Rattay completed a second residency in preventive medicine at the University of Maryland where she also earned a master’s degree in epidemiology.