Santa Fe Standard

The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) has announced the appointment of Dr. José A. Acosta, MD, MBA, MPH as the new Director for the Public Health Division. Dr. Acosta will begin his new role on April 1, 2024, reporting directly to Secretary Patrick Allen.

Secretary Patrick Allen expressed his confidence in Dr. Acosta's abilities, stating, "I'm delighted that Dr. Acosta has accepted the challenge to step into the role as leader of our Public Health Division. He has done outstanding work in his current role leading the Developmental Disabilities Supports Division through a challenging time, and I'm confident he has the public health, medical, and leadership background and experience to take public health to the next level."

Dr. Acosta himself shared his excitement about the new position, saying, "I am truly humbled and honored to accept the role of Director of the Public Health Division at the New Mexico Department of Health. I am deeply committed to the Secretary's goal of making New Mexico the healthiest state by 2040. I look forward to collaborating with our incredible team and partners, as together, we strive to improve the health outcomes of our communities."

The Public Health Division works towards achieving optimal health for individuals, families, and communities in New Mexico by providing public health leadership, developing health policy, ensuring access to coordinated systems of care, and delivering services to promote health and prevent disease.

Dr. Acosta brings a wealth of experience to his new role, with a background as a results-driven executive healthcare leader proficient in public health, operations management, service optimization, patient safety, quality assurance, and financial management. His previous roles include serving as the director for the Developmental Disabilities Supports Division and as the chief medical officer for NMDOH.

His extensive education includes a Master of Public Health (Epidemiology) from TH Chan Harvard School of Public Health, a Master of Business Administration from Regis University, and various other qualifications in the medical field.

Dr. Acosta resides in Placitas with his wife and two children, one of whom is an Economist at the Federal Reserve and the other a Naval Officer.

The appointment of Dr. José A. Acosta as the Director for the Public Health Division marks a significant step towards advancing public health initiatives in New Mexico.