Rachel Levine appointed to Gov. Wolf's cabinet

On March 20, Rachel Levine was confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate as Governor Tom Wolf's Secretary of Health. She will remain the state Physician General. Three other women were approved: Secretary of Human Services Teresa Miller, Secretary of the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs Jennifer Smith and Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman.The appointment makes Rachel Levine the highest ranking transgender government official in Pennsylvania.

From the Pennsylvania Department of Health website: "As Physician General, Dr. Levine has made significant strides combating the opioid epidemic and advocating on behalf of the LGBTQ population. She spearheaded the efforts to establish opioid prescribing guidelines and establish opioid prescribing education for medical students. She has also led an LGBTQ workgroup for the governor's office which has worked to create programs and processes that are fair and inclusive in healthcare, insurance, and many other areas. In addition to being Secretary of Health and Physician General, she is professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at the Penn State College of Medicine.