Gov. Glenn Youngkin has appointed Danny TK Avula, MD, MPH as the commissioner of the Virginia Department of Social Services (DSS). Avula comes to the role having most recently served as the health director of the Richmond City and Henrico County Health Departments. In 2021 he was appointed by then Gov. Ralph Northam to lead Virginia’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts.

Addressing VHCA-VCAL members at the Legislative Conference, Avula expressed gratitude for all that long term care providers have done during the pandemic. He remarked, “Every administrator and every nurse showed up and did an exceptional job. We went through fire together.” Reflecting on his new role as commissioner, he recommended facilities should assess what they have learned and what skills will be needed to tackle new challenges. Avula also noted that thought needs to be given to hiring staff that looks like the communities being served. He concluded by saying assisted living facilities should count on DSS as a partner.

Avula is a public health physician specializing in pediatrics and preventive medicine and continues to practice clinically as a pediatric hospitalist. After graduating from the University of Virginia, he earned his medical degree from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. He completed residencies at VCU and Johns Hopkins University, where he also earned the master of public health degree. He is an affiliate faculty member at VCU, where he regularly serves as an advisor and preceptor to graduate and medical students.

Governor McAuliffe appointed Avula to the State Board of Social Services in 2013, and he served as board chair from 2017 to 2019. He is also a former board chair of the Richmond Memorial Health Foundation. He is a recent recipient of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Community’s Humanitarian Award, a 2019 Richmond Times-Dispatch Person of the Year honoree and was named Style Weekly’s “Richmonder of the Year” in 2020. Avula’s work has been featured nationally by the CDC, MSNBC, The New York Times, NPR, and PBS Newshour, and he can be found on the TED circuit with his TEDx talk entitled “Dependence Isn’t a Dirty Word.” At home in Richmond’s Church Hill neighborhood, where he has lived for the past 16 years, Avula’s time is devoted to life with his wife and five kids.

VHCA-VCAL looks forward to working Avula in his new role.