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State Health Director Stepping Down

michigan.gov/mdch

Michigan's top health official resigns after suffering mild stroke

The state's top health official is stepping down to focus on his personal health. Michigan Department of Community Health Director Jim Haveman says he suffered a mild stroke in May.

Haveman served as director of the Michigan Department of Community Health twice - once during Gov. John Engler's second term, and then Gov. Rick Snyder named him the head of MDCH again in 2012.

His second stint in the job will perhaps be marked by the central role Haveman played in the passage of the state's Medicaid expansion. He oversaw the implementation of that program - now known as Healthy Michigan. It has far exceeded the state's enrollment goals, and now provides health insurance to more than 300 thousand low-income Michiganders.

Gov. Snyder praised Haveman for his work leading MDCH. The governor has named MDCH Chief Deputy Director Nick Lyon to replace Haveman.