Michael Wolf was nominated by Governor Tom Corbett as Secretary of Health in April 2013 and unanimously confirmed by the Senate as Secretary of Health in May 2013. Wolf previously served as Acting Secretary of the department beginning in October 2012. He heads one of the nation's leading public health agencies with a budget of more than $838 million. The department regulates hospitals, nursing homes and various other health care facilities, while supporting public health and prevention initiatives.
As the commonwealth’s top health regulator, Wolf is committed to modernizing Pennsylvania’s health care system. Recent efforts are being made to increase access to health care in rural and underserved areas by providing additional medical services, increasing funding to community health centers, improving telemedicine, and expanding programs that help attract and retain health care practitioners.
A Pennsylvania native, Wolf also previously served as the Executive Deputy Secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Health, where he oversaw the deputy secretaries within the department, providing strategic direction and operational oversight.
Prior to his return to public service, Wolf was Director, Worldwide Public Affairs and Policy for Pfizer, the world's largest research-based pharmaceutical company. In this role he was responsible for company relations with Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, and Puerto Rico’s governments, as well as relationships with state biotechnology trade associations.
For eight years, Wolf served in the administration of Governor Tom Ridge. He was appointed as the Deputy Secretary for the Office of International Business Development in September 2000. In this role, he served as the principal strategist and spokesman for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s international efforts.
He started his career with six years of political campaign work, including serving as the political director of the Republican Party in Pennsylvania and culminating with the Tom Ridge for Governor Campaign.
Wolf has also served as a government relations and company development consultant to Central Pennsylvania Life Sciences Greenhouse and BioAdvance, early stage venture capital companies specializing in start-up biotech companies.
Wolf serves on the board for multiple organizations ranging from the Health Policy Board to the Health Research Advisory Committee to Capital City Vipers Youth Hockey. He is a member of several health care focused organizations including, but not limited to, the Children’s Health Advisory Council and Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council.
Wolf is a graduate of Slippery Rock University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and received a Master’s in Business Administration with a focus on Global Management from the University of Phoenix.
His vision for Pennsylvania is one where every resident has access to affordable, high-quality health care, regardless of what area of the commonwealth they reside.
