New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) Acting Commissioner Jeff Brown announced several key leadership updates and organizational changes, including the naming of two deputy commissioners, as part of the department’s ongoing efforts to strengthen and better align its structure with strategic priorities.
“As we seek to strengthen our commitment to protect public health, promote healthy communities and improve the quality of health care in New Jersey, I am pleased to announce key updates to the leadership team and organization structure that will better position us to meet the evolving needs of the communities that we serve,” said Brown. “These changes reflect our ongoing dedication to responsive, effective and equitable public health in our state, and I am honored to work alongside some of the most hardworking and compassionate leaders and staff at the Department of Health.”
Stefanie Mozgai has been appointed deputy commissioner of Health Systems following the acting commissioner’s departure from that role last month. The Health Systems branch oversees inspections and enforcements of regulations for approximately 2,200 licensed New Jersey health-care facilities, over 2,700 mental health and addiction services and programs, the Certificate of Need Program, the Office of Health Care Affordability and Transparency, and major hospital funding programs such as Charity Care, Graduate Medical Education and the Quality Improvement Performance Program. These programs include approximately 300 staff and a combined state and federal budget of over half a billion dollars.
Mozgai started with NJDOH in 1999 as a nurse surveyor and, in January 2021, finished her career in the Survey program as assistant commissioner of Health Facility Survey & Field Operations. In this role, she was responsible for ensuring compliance with state and federal requirements and the overall management of the survey and certification process for N.J.’s licensed and certified health-care facilities.
After a brief departure from NJDOH to serve in the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as director of the Division of Continuing and Acute Care Providers, she returned in January 2022 as assistant commissioner of Certificate of Need and Licensing, where she maintained oversight and accountability for the licensing process of all state-licensed health-care facilities to ensure access to services and that those services meet licensing standards.
“I am extremely excited to step into the role of deputy commissioner. With 26 years of regulatory oversight experience, I feel well-prepared for this opportunity and look forward to further contributing to the department’s mission,” said Mozgai.
The acting commissioner also appointed Novneet Sahu, M.D., as deputy commissioner for Public Health Services. As the Deputy Commissioner for Public Health Services, Sahu will oversee the divisions of Epidemiology, Environmental and Occupational Health; Family Health Services; HIV, STD and TB Services; Disaster Preparedness, Resiliency and Emergency Medical Services; Public Health and Environmental Laboratories; the Office of Opioid Response and Policy; and the Office of Women’s Health.
Dr. Sahu most recently served as State EMS medical director and special consultant in the Division of Disaster Preparedness, Resiliency and Emergency Medical Services at NJDOH since March 2024. He is an experienced emergency and family medicine physician with a rich history of service to the community in both local and global health settings. Dr. Sahu recently held the positions of associate professor of Emergency and Family Medicine and director of Health Systems Science at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and served as an attending physician at University Hospital in Newark.
“I am honored to bring my experience to this role and deeply committed to building on the Department’s strong foundation. I look forward to working collaboratively with Acting Commissioner Brown and colleagues at the department to ensure every resident has the opportunity to lead a healthy life and achieve lasting health outcomes,” said Dr. Sahu.
“It is with great optimism that I welcome our newest members to the executive leadership team. Each one of them brings exceptional talent, deep experience and a shared commitment to advancing public health in meaningful and measurable ways,” said Brown.
Additional organizational changes taking effect include the renaming of the department’s Division of Management and Administration within the Office of the Commissioner to the Division of Administration and Operations and the establishment of an assistant commissioner, who will act as chief operating officer for NJDOH, to lead this division. This division will consist of the offices of Financial Services; Human Resource Services; Health Information Technology; Administrative Services; and Public Health Planning and Strategy.
Kelly Anderson-Thomas, who has served as deputy commissioner for Public Health Services since 2024, will assume the new role of chief operating officer/assistant commissioner for the Division of Administration and Operations. In this role, she will be responsible for operational and strategic planning and implementation across the department.
“I extend my deepest gratitude to Kelly for her tremendous service and leadership as deputy commissioner and her partnership in navigating these challenging times for public health,” said Brown.
In July 2024, NJDOH reorganized the Public Health Infrastructure, Laboratories & Emergency Preparedness division within the Public Health Services branch to improve operational efficiencies and effectiveness. This reorganization included elevating its Office of Local Public Health and the Public Health and Environmental Laboratories to become divisions of their own.
As a result, Division Director Rosalind Finney has assumed the role of assistant commissioner for the Division of Public Health and Environmental Laboratories (PHEL), and Local Public Health Director Shereen Semple assumed the assistant commissioner role for the Division of Local Public Health. Finney oversees all aspects of PHEL’s management, including programs, policies and a 200,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility. Semple is responsible for delivering program oversight, strategic planning and policy development as it relates to local public health infrastructure and the licensed public health workforce.
“Together, we face unprecedented challenges and exciting opportunities. I am confident that this team will rise to meet them with vision, compassion and integrity as we continue our efforts to build a stronger, more resilient health department for all New Jerseyans,” added Brown.
