CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state health officer of West Virginia, who was recently reelected as a notable figure in the nonprofit organization responsible for managing a significant portion of the state’s opioid settlement funds, has officially stepped down from his position.
Dr. Matt Christiansen’s tenure with the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources concluded on Friday, and the department disclosed this information in a statement issued on Monday. The announcement did not clarify who will take on the role of interim health officer following Christiansen’s departure.
Last week, Christiansen was reaffirmed as the vice chair of the West Virginia First Foundation. The organization’s board also introduced a plan to allocate $20 million to establish a 10-county network aimed at reducing overdoses, in collaboration with Marshall University, where Christiansen serves as an associate professor at the medical school. This initiative is primarily focused on addressing family care and addiction medicine.
The disbursement of funds from West Virginia’s opioid settlement is designed to enhance an initial federal investment of $15 million directed toward the Appalachian Continuum of Care for Overdose Reduction Network project.
Christiansen expressed pride in his contributions as the state health officer, particularly in the effort to reconstruct public health services in West Virginia following the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Public health staff are unsung heroes who keep us healthy, and they deserve our respect and thanks every single day,” he articulated in a statement.
During his time as state health officer, Christiansen made significant strides in fostering relationships within the community by visiting all 48 local health departments and initiating monthly calls to engage stakeholders. This was intended to improve coordination of public health efforts throughout the state. Additionally, he launched West Virginia’s inaugural anti-vaping campaign aimed at youth, addressing a pressing concern as the state records some of the highest rates of vaping among young people in the nation.