DOH Director to Request Leave of Absence

D.C. Department of Health Director Mohammad N. Akhter is expected to request a leave of absence from his cabinet post to serve on a board governing the city’s health care exchange, a key ingredient of President

Obama’s reforms that were upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, officials said Friday.
The officials, who were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter, said Saul Levin, a senior deputy director in DOH's Addiction Prevention and Recovery Administration, will step in to serve as the agency’s director.

A D.C. Council committee on Friday approved Dr. Akhter and six other nominees selected by Mayor Vincent C. Gray to serve on the Healthcare Exchange Board. The full council is expected to confirm the nominees at its July 10 legislation meeting.

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