[Archived] Dr. David C. Rose Named Alexandria Health Department Director

For Immediate Release: November 1, 2021

The City of Alexandria announces the Virginia Department of Health’s appointment of David C. Rose, M.D., MBA, FAAP as the new Alexandria Health Department Director, effective today, November 1. Dr. Rose was selected following an extensive recruitment process and brings decades of clinical and administrative public health experience to the role. He will take over the Health Director role from Dr. Anne Gaddy who has been serving on an Acting basis since April of 2021.

Dr. Rose comes to Alexandria Health Department (AHD) from the Maryland Department of Human Services, where he has been serving as the Child Welfare Medical Director. Previously, Dr. Rose has held other governmental and public health leadership roles, including Deputy Health Officer for Public Health, Anne Arundel County Department of Health; Senior Deputy Director for Primary Care and Prevention Administration, District of Columbia Department of Health; and Assistant Commissioner for Communicable Diseases and Epidemiology, Baltimore City Health Department. A board-certified pediatrician, Dr. Rose has provided medical care and served as medical director for several urban community health centers. He has also provided consulting services for community health-related nonprofit organizations, community health centers and governmental health agencies.

Dr. Rose received a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from the University of Pittsburgh and holds a medical degree from the Howard University College of Medicine. He completed his residency in pediatrics at Emory University in Atlanta. He has also received graduate certificates in public health management and the business of healthcare from the Johns Hopkins University, as well as a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Maryland Global Campus.

“Dr. Gaddy’s able leadership as Acting Director has been key to Alexandria’s ability to respond quickly and nimbly to the COVID-19 pandemic in our community,” said City Manager Mark Jinks. “She has excelled in all aspects of this role, particularly in assuming responsibility for planning, organizing and administering Alexandria’s vaccination processes. We are pleased that she will continue to play a vital role by resuming as Deputy Health Director,” said Jinks. “We welcome Dr. Rose as our new Health Director and look forward to continuing our partnership and close collaboration with the Alexandria Health Department.”  

For inquiries from the news media only, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.