Indian Health Service Welcomes New Chief Medical Officer

The Indian Health Service today announced Capt. Michael Toedt, M.D., as chief medical officer.

As chief medical officer, Dr. Toedt serves as IHS’ lead expert on medical and public health topics, guiding the IHS Office of the Director and IHS staff throughout the country on American Indian and Alaska Native health care.

“I know Dr. Michael Toedt as a strong advocate for quality health care services for Indian people, and I am so pleased to welcome him to his new position as permanent IHS chief medical officer,” said Rear Adm. Chris Buchanan, IHS Acting Director. “Dr. Toedt’s lifelong commitment to service is an inspiring example. His important work on clinical and community-based health programs will lead our IHS health professionals in further advancing the IHS mission.”

The IHS chief medical officer is responsible for overall patient care policy and program development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. The chief medical officer guides IHS in evaluating, designing, and implementing health care delivery systems and coordinates with staff regarding health services, clinical guidelines, and planning activities. The chief medical officer also serves as the primary liaison and advocate for IHS health professionals.

Dr. Toedt earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, and a Bachelor of Science in applied physics from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. He completed a residency in family medicine and a fellowship in obstetrics at the Franklin Square Hospital Center in Baltimore, Maryland.

Dr. Toedt serves as a captain in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. He has 26 years of federal government service, all but three with IHS. From 2012-2014, Dr. Toedt was appointed as an examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, an award established by the U.S. Congress in 1987 to raise awareness of quality management and recognize U.S. companies that have implemented successful quality management systems.

Dr. Toedt previously served as acting chief medical officer, as well as chief medical officer for the IHS Nashville Area, the IHS administrative region that stretches from Maine to Florida. He also previously served in the National Health Service Corps program, which recruits young health professionals to facilities in underserved areas. Dr. Toedt is board certified in family medicine and is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

IHS, an agency in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides a comprehensive health service delivery system for approximately 2.2 million American Indians and Alaska Natives. Follow IHS on Facebook .