The Minnesota Department of Health has announced that Michelle Larson will serve as the interim Director for the Health Regulation Division through December 2018. 

Larson is currently Director of the Office of Medical Cannabis at MDH and will continue in that role during her interim appointment.  The Department of Health organizational chart shows the range of work encompassed within the Health Regulation Division. 

Larson has 20 years of public health experience at the state and local level that includes topics such as obesity, tobacco prevention, Strategic National Stockpile, emergency preparedness, environmental health, and policy development. She has a PhD from the University of Minnesota in Organization, Leadership, and Policy Development, a Masters of Public Affairs degree from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Government, and a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Wisconsin. Larson served in the Minnesota Air National Guard for six years. She can be reached at michelle.larson@state.mn.us.

MDH has also posted a hiring notice for the Director of the Office of Health Facility Complaints (OHFC). The position will be posted through Sept. 19.