There will be someone new overseeing all public health issues for the state.

Governor Murphy tapped Dr. Kaitlan Baston to succeed retiring Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli, who is retiring after leading the department since 2019.

Baston is a doctor at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, who specializes in addiction medicine.

Having founded the Center for Healing there and is an expert in child development.

Her nomination has largely been met with praise.

But as our mental health writer Bobby Brier notes, some critics say the post requires a broader range of skills.

Bobby joins me now.

Bobby Brier.

Good to see you as always.

You did a deep dive on Dr. Baston, her background.

Really what shaped her to be nominated to this role.

I'm curious, though, what's the reaction been like since Governor Murphy made this announcement?

Yeah, Briana, doctors and harm reduction advocates throughout the state that I've spoken to have really welcomed this announcement by by Governor Murphy Many of the doctors that I've spoken with have really pointed to the fact that she is somebody who really takes a compassionate approach to folks who are often in the throes of addiction.

One expert that I spoke with who has sat with sat with Dr. Baston on a number of committees throughout the state has really pointed to the fact that she's often praised as being down to earth, open and honest in many conversations.

She does not come across as somebody who, in her words, has an air about her.

In many ways, she's somebody that could really relate to people on a level that's very personal and compassionate.

So that's what I've heard from most folks.

Now, of course, there's also been critics of Dr. Baston's appointment, saying that, you know, her focus has been particularly in addiction medicine, where she's also dual certified as a family medicine as well.

But by and large, many of the doctors and harm reduction advocates that I've spoken to have praised this effort by the Murphy administration.

Well, how is her scope being narrow in addiction, necessarily a negative for New Jersey when we know this is a prominent issue here?

Why would that be something to detract people from, you know, especially the Senate from confirming her nomination.

You know, and that was a point that many advocates have said, instead of seeing that as a negative, as a narrow focus, they've seen this as a huge positive, really, that this would really zero in on a key issue that New Jersey has been having as it relates, of course, to opioid overdoses That because of Dr. Baston's extensive experience, of course, founding the Center for Healing at Cooper University, as well as her work with Rowan University's Medical School.

She's really been able to create a robust curriculum around addiction medicine.

Any red flags from her background and how quickly might we see her confirmed?

Sure.

The the only red flags that, you know, critics of her appointment have pointed to is the fact that she has an a focus on addiction medicine.

They've questioned whether or not she would be able to lead an office with with a focus on both addiction and family medicine.

Maybe not having experience running a hospital and things of that nature.

That was the only criticism that I've heard of her appointment thus far in terms of her nomination process.

I've spoken to a number of folks in the governor's office who have said that it's most likely when the Senate is able to get a quorum in November, then they'll be able to have this nomination process rolling out.

So she'll be acting commissioner until then.

All right, Bobby Brier, thanks so much.

Thank you, Briana.

Support for the medical report is provided by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.

An independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association