FSSA and ISDH Name New Chief Medical Officers

Indianapolis (Aug. 6, 2018) – The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) and Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) today reinforced their commitment to improve the overall health and wellness of Hoosiers by announcing new chief medical officers for each agency. Daniel Rusyniak, M.D., M.P.H., is FSSA’s new chief medical officer and Melissa Collier, M.D, M.P.H., will serve in the same capacity for ISDH.
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Dr. Rusyniak begins today and will continue his work as a professor of emergency medicine and an adjunct professor of pharmacology, toxicology and neurology at Indiana University School of Medicine.
“The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration is excited to welcome Dr. Rusyniak as a key member of our executive leadership team,” said FSSA Secretary Jennifer Walthall, M.D., M.P.H., “Dan’s many accomplishments as a toxicologist and professor of emergency medicine are impressive, as is his vision for a path to a healthier future for all Hoosiers. His expertise in toxicology and public health will be invaluable as the administration continues to attack substance use disorder and improve Hoosier health outcomes,” said Walthall.
Dr. Rusyniak’s new role includes leading FSSA’s medical directors, as well as the agency’s new Healthy Opportunities office to ensure qualifying Hoosiers receive the services they need.
Dr. Rusyniak graduated from Villanova University and earned his medical degree from Wake Forest University. He completed an emergency medicine residency and medical toxicology fellowship at the IU School of Medicine.
Dr. Collier is a familiar name at the Indiana State Department of Health, including working as a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) epidemic intelligence service officer inside the agency from 2010 to 2012, where she led various outbreak investigations.
Prior to coming to the Indiana State Department of Health, Dr. Collier’s experience and expertise with the CDC included being the team lead for the Division of Viral Hepatitis, as well as medical epidemiologist of the division and supervisory medical officer at the CDC occupational health clinic.
“Having a full-time chief medical officer gives ISDH a critical resource to help improve the health of Hoosiers,” said Indiana State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG. “Dr. Collier’s training in pediatric medicine and in responding to outbreaks will be invaluable to our efforts to reduce infant mortality and protect the citizens of Indiana.”
In addition to her clinical and public health experience, Dr. Collier has made contributions to the U.S. Public Health Service, serving at the Newark Quarantine Station during the United States Public Health Service Ebola response, and serving on the Smoking Cessation Subcommittee of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Physician Professional Advisory Committee.
Dr. Collier is a board-certified pediatrician with a background in internal medicine and earned her Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in epidemiology.