Harry L. Chen, M.D.
Harry L. Chen, M.D. is Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Health, appointed
in January, 2011. He was appointed Acting Secretary of the Agency of Human Services
on August 12, 2014 and served in this role through January, 2015. Dr. Chen worked as an
emergency physician at Rutland Regional Medical Center for over 20 years, through
2010, serving as Medical Director from 1998-2004. He is on the clinical faculty at the
University of Vermont College of Medicine and served as Vice Chair of the University of
Vermont Board of Trustees. From 2002-2008, Dr. Chen served in the Vermont House of
Representatives; during his final term he was Vice Chair of the Health Care Committee.
Dr. Chen is a member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Board of
Scientific Counselors Office of Infectious Disease (BSC OID) and the Chair of the BSC
OID Food Safety Modernization Act Surveillance Working Group. Dr. Chen has served
on the Board of Directors of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. He
has spoken on health care reform and public health nationally and regionally, including
presentations to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee, the
U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, and the New England Medical Society Leadership
Conference.
Dr. Chen earned his medical degree and completed his residency in emergency medicine
at the Oregon Health Sciences University School of Medicine, serving as Chief Resident.
He was on the faculty of the George Washington University Medical Center, Department
of Emergency Medicine from 1983-1988. Dr. Chen received the Vermont State Medical
Society Physician Award for Community Service in 2008. He has served on numerous
statewide boards addressing healthcare and medical issues, including the Vermont Board
of Medical Practice, where he was Vice Chair.