Dr. Mark Levine was appointed commissioner of health by Governor Phil Scott and began service on March 6, 2017. Prior to his appointment he was a Professor of Medicine at the University of Vermont, and most recently the Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education and Designated Institutional Official at the College of Medicine and the UVM Medical Center. He also served as the Vice Chair for Education in the Department of Medicine. Dr. Levine obtained his B.A. in Biology from the University of Connecticut and received his M.D. degree from the University of Rochester. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency and a Chief Resident year at the University of Vermont and a fellowship in general internal medicine at the University of North Carolina, which emphasized clinical epidemiology, research training, teaching, and administration of educational programs.

Dr. Levine has gained a reputation as an outstanding teacher and educational program innovator, receiving teaching awards from the medical school and the Department of Medicine. He maintains his faculty appointment and continues to actively teach.

Prior to becoming Commissioner, he actively practiced general internal medicine with special interests in solving complex diagnostic dilemmas, health promotion/ disease prevention, screening and clinical nutrition. This provided him with personal perspective on the challenges our healthcare system holds for physicians as well as patients. At the nexus of Dr. Levine’s clinical, education, public health and advocacy efforts is his heightened interest in improving health at the population level through health policy directed at fostering a culture of health. As Health Commissioner, Dr. Levine takes great pride in leading the Department of Health’s efforts to fulfill its mission – To protect and promote the best health for all Vermonters and is honored to represent its vision of Healthy Vermonters living in healthy communities.

VASE's Annual Meeting will take place via Zoom on Monday, October 26, 2020 beginning at 5:00pm. Dr. Levine will deliver the keynote presentation entitled "The Application (and Misapplication) of Science, Epidemiologic Data, Public Health Practices, and Health Policy during the COVID-19 Pandemic."