TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and Acting Secretary Janet Stanek today announced Joan Duwve, M.D., MPH, as the new Acting State Health Officer. Duwve previously served as the Deputy State Health Officer.

“Joan has served Kansans since 2020, providing valuable input on the COVID-19 response,” Janet Stanek, Acting Secretary, said. “Her time at KDHE coupled with her extensive history as a physician and public health official makes her the best choice for this role.

Duwve joined KDHE in Nov. 2020 to lead the COVID-19 Unified Testing Strategy before moving into the Deputy State Health Officer position in July 2021. Prior to her roles at KDHE, Duwve spent 12 years in various public health leadership roles in South Carolina and Indiana. While at the South Carolina Department of Health and Environment Control, Duwve worked to elevate the health equity program and hire a director of diversity, equity and inclusion. She also spent 11 years practicing as a family medicine physician.

“I’m grateful to Secretary Stanek for selecting me for this role within KDHE,” Joan Duwve, M.D., said. “The importance of public health has become increasingly evident over the past couple of years as we have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m looking forward to working alongside state and local public health officials and stakeholders as we continue to work together to protect and improve the health of all Kansans.”

Duwve completed her medical degree at Johns Hopkins University. She also holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Michigan and Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from the Ohio State University. She has served on the CDC National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Board of Scientific Counselors, a National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine Evaluation Committee and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials Board of Directors and Infectious Diseases Policy Committee.