April 25, 2018
As reported this morning in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and confirmed by several administration sources, Governor Northam will appoint Dr. Hughes Melton, currently Chief Deputy of the Virginia Department of Health, as the Commissioner of DBHDS. He will replace Dr. Jack Barber who has served as Interim/Acting Commissioner for the past three years and has had a distinguished career with the Department serving previously as a psychiatrist, Director of Western State Hospital, and Chief Medical Director of the Department.
Dr. Melton, who joined the Department of Health two years ago, was a recognized family practitioner in Russell County which included an addiction treatment center that served as a model for the Medicaid funded ARTS program. He will work with the Legislature to implement the STEP-VA transformation of the Virginia Behavioral Health system.