New Health Department Director Named In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — A new director has been named for the Alexandria Health Department after an extensive recruitment process.

The Virginia Department of Health has appointed Dr. David C. Rose as director, effective Nov. 1. Rose takes over as director for Dr. Anne Gaddy, who has been serving as acting director since April 2021 after previous director Dr. Stephen Haering announced his retirement. Gaddy will resume her position as deputy health director.

"Dr. Gaddy’s able leadership as Acting Director has been key to Alexandria’s ability to respond quickly and nimbly to the COVID-19 pandemic in our community," said City Manager Mark Jinks in a statement. "She has excelled in all aspects of this role, particularly in assuming responsibility for planning, organizing and administering Alexandria’s vaccination processes.

On Rose's appointment, Jinks said, "We welcome Dr. Rose as our new Health Director and look forward to continuing our partnership and close collaboration with the Alexandria Health Department."

Rose comes to Alexandria from the Maryland Department of Human Services, where he was child welfare medical director. He has held other public health leadership roles, including deputy health officer for public health at the Anne Arundel County Department of Health, senior deputy director for primary care and prevention administration, at the DC Department of Health, and assistant commissioner for communicable diseases and epidemiology at the Baltimore City Health Department. Rose is a board-certified pediatrician and has provided medical care and served as medical director for several urban community health centers as well as consulting services for community health nonprofit, community health centers and government health agencies.

Rose has a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from the University of Pittsburgh, medical degree from the Howard University College of Medicine, graduate certificates in public health management and the business of healthcare from the Johns Hopkins University, and master’s degree in business administration from the University of Maryland Global Campus. He completed his residency in pediatrics at Emory University in Atlanta.

The health department is tasked with providing public health service, including preventing the spread of infectious diseases, administering vaccines, protecting environmental health and against foodborne illnesses, responding to public health emergencies and more. The Alexandria Health Department is one of 33 Virginia health districts under the jurisdiction of the state's health department. Virginia's remaining two health districts in neighboring Arlington and Fairfax are locally run.