EMS Veteran Nominated to DHS Health Post

President Obama has announced his intent to nominate Dr. Alexander Garza as Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs and Chief Medical Officer.

Garza will bring extensive government, military and EMS experience to the DHS.

"Dr. Garza brings many years of experience as both a leader in the public health field and a practicing emergency physician to the Department's Office of Health Affairs," said DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano in a prepared statement. "I look forward to working with him to prepare for and respond to all health threats-from the H1N1 virus to biological weapons-to ensure the safety of our nation."

According to the DHS, Garza's responsibilities will be to lead all DHS medical and health security matters; to oversee the health aspects of contingency planning for all chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear hazards; and to lead a coordinated effort to ensure that the DHS is prepared to respond to biological and chemical Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).

Garza currently serves as a staff physician for the Level I trauma center at the Washington Hospital Center, the DHS reports.

His EMS history includes roles as the Associate Medical Director of EMS for the State of New Mexico and as Director of EMS for the Kansas City Health Department. He also previously served as a paramedic, a flight paramedic, and an EMT in Missouri.

In his military career, Garza has previously worked as the Director of Military Programs at the ER One Institute at the Washington Hospital Center. He also served as a battalion surgeon and Public Health Team Chief during Operation Flintlock in Dakar, Senegal, as well as during Operation Iraqi Freedom I. He has also acted as a special investigator and medical expert.

Garza holds an MD from University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine and a Masters in Public Health from St. Louis University School of Public Health.