O'Bannon names state health commissioner

Gov. Frank O'Bannon named Dr. Gregory Wilson, associate professor of the Indiana University School of Medicine, the new state health commissioner. \nWilson, 50, is a pediatrician at Riley Hospital for Children who works with children with developmental disabilities. He succeeds Richard Feldman, who resigned in December after four years on the job. \n"He has a long history of working on public health issues and has valuable experience in the medical as well as managerial fields," Thad Nation, press secretary to the governor, said of Wilson. \nIn a press release, O'Bannon said that with Wilson's years of experience and expertise, he would play an important part in the department's role in meeting the needs of Hoosier families.\nWilson has held key health care positions such as medical director of Wishard Memorial Hospital's pediatric outpatient clinic and medical director of quality assurance for IU Health Care. \nWilson, a 1975 graduate of the IU School of Medicine and native of Farmland, Ind., lives in Indianapolis with his wife Linda.\nHe was involved with the creation of the state's First Steps program, which emphasizes early intervention for infants and toddlers who have disabilities or are at-risk.\nWilson said one of his top priorities as state health commissioner will be to develop a statewide immunization registry to improve immunization rates for children in Indiana. It would make child immunization records available everywhere in the state, preventing children from receiving the same injection more than once.\nHe said a public information program to help Hoosier senior citizens find home health care services in their area would also be on his priority list. \n"We are delighted that Dr. Wilson accepted the position and we are looking forward to working under his leadership to meet his goals and fulfill his aims," said Margaret Joseph, spokeswoman for the State Department of Health. \nWilson began his career in 1979 by founding the Indiana Poison Center. He served as the center's director until 1983. And, he favored expanding Hoosier Healthwise, the state's health insurance program for low-income children.\n"His past work on various issues, including the Poison Center, really puts him on the top of the list of people considered for the post," Nation said.\nThe state health commissioner oversees 1,100 employees and has been paid an annual salary of $106,990. State laws require that physicians fill the position.