Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson nominates Michael Totoraitis to health commissioner

Alison Dirr, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·2 min read
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Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson has nominated an internal candidate to serve as the city's next health commissioner.

Michael Totoraitis most recently served as the Health Department's director of health data and evaluation.

Michael Totoraitis has been appointed commissioner of the Milwaukee Health Department by Mayor Cavalier Johnson. His nomination is subject to Common Council confirmation.
Michael Totoraitis has been appointed commissioner of the Milwaukee Health Department by Mayor Cavalier Johnson. His nomination is subject to Common Council confirmation.

In a statement, Johnson cited Totoraitis' experience, education, character and connections across the city as reasons for his nomination.

If confirmed by the Common Council, Totoraitis would replace former Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson, who resigned earlier this year.

Gov. Tony Evers has appointed Kirsten Johnson to serve as secretary of the state Department of Health Services.

More: Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson to resign, prompting another leadership shift

More: Milwaukee health commissioner's resignation came after she was 'publicly shamed' by an alderman

Totoraitis has a doctorate in public and community health from the Medical College of Wisconsin, according to the mayor's office. He worked at Milwaukee’s Safe & Sound, the city’s Office of Violence Prevention, Milwaukee County and the Medical College of Wisconsin before joining the Health Department in a leadership capacity about two years ago.

He was chosen after a national search, according to the mayor's office.

In a statement, Totoraitis thanked his predecessor for giving the department "a clear strategic vision."

The department has seen a series of interim and appointed commissioners since longtime health commissioner Bevan Baker was pushed out in January 2018 after a series of missteps and failures related to treating and notifying lead-poisoned children and problems in the department's cancer screening and family planning programs.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Michael Totoraitis nominated to serve as Milwaukee health commissioner