Dr. Harrison Hines Named Delaware Director of Public Health

“My goal is to help individuals and communities flourish,” said Dr. Harrison Hines, the newly appointed Director of Public Health and Delaware State Health Officer.

Dr. Hines officially assumed his leadership role on October 12, 2026, according to a release from State of Delaware News. He now heads the largest division within the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, managing nearly 1,000 employees tasked with protecting more than one million residents.

The appointment marks a transition for the agency following the departure of former Director Steven Blessing. During the interim period, which lasted over three months, Dr. Tesha Quail managed the division’s operations. Dr. Quail has since returned to her role as Deputy Director and Chief Health Equity Officer at the Division of Public Health (DPH).

Dr. Hines brings a background that blends clinical neurology with high-level federal policy. Before arriving in Delaware, he served on the White House Domestic Policy Council. In that capacity, he led the team responsible for creating the first U.S. Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health, a framework designed to tackle how housing, food security, and transportation access influence long-term medical outcomes.

His experience also includes executive leadership roles at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, where he focused on improving service delivery for veterans. While leading the state’s public health efforts, he will maintain his clinical perspective as a neurologist. He earned his medical degree from the Stanford University School of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of California, San Francisco.

This dual expertise in policy and direct patient care is intended to help the DPH address complex community challenges. The division’s mandate includes a wide range of critical services, such as:

Improving health outcomes for mothers and babies
Preventing the spread of communicable diseases
Ensuring the safety of drinking water and food supplies
Advocating for at-risk populations to reduce health disparities

“Dr. Hines brings an exceptional combination of clinical experience, national health policy expertise, and proven leadership to Delaware,” said Surgeon General Dr. Neil Hockstein.

Dr. Hockstein said that the state can better align statewide health priorities with the specific functions of the Division of Public Health to improve community health outcomes.

The leadership of the DPH heavily influences the state's infrastructure. As a nationally accredited agency, the division is recognized by the Public Health Accreditation Board for its work in innovation and community protection. The scope of the role involves not just reactive disease control, but proactive efforts to foster self-sufficiency among Delaware’s citizens.

Dr. Hines has indicated that his initial phase of leadership will involve listening to stakeholders. He expressed a desire to consult with local residents to identify areas where the division can improve its service delivery.

“As I begin serving Delawareans living across the state, I want to hear from the people who know their communities best, learn, and find where we can do better,” Dr. Hines said.

The official announcement from the state details the transition and the division’s ongoing commitment to protecting vulnerable populations through the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services.