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Release: Gov. Nixon names Peter Lyskowski as Director of Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Jay Nixon today named Peter Lyskowski as director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Lyskowski is currently serving as acting director of the department.

“Under Peter’s leadership, the department has done great work to promote public health, including achieving accreditation for the department and taking steps to prepare and protect against the spread of Zika virus,” Gov. Nixon said. “I know that Peter will continue to work every day to help keep Missourians safe as State Health Director.”

This past March, The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services achieved national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board. At that time, DHSS was one of only 16 state health departments to have achieved this accreditation.

Additionally, under Lyskowski’s leadership, Missouri has taken proactive action to prevent and protect against the transmission of Zika virus in the state. In April, Lyskowski announced that the Missouri State Public Health Laboratory had been designated as a Zika virus testing laboratory by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. With this designation, the Missouri State Public Health Laboratory, located in Jefferson City, is now able to provide testing of Zika virus samples more quickly.  

Other efforts to strengthen Missouri’s public health system under Lyskowski’s leadership include securing a grant for telehealth services to assist military veterans and continuing to expand newborn screening services. In addition, Lyskowski has visited 39 local public health agencies in counties across the state to discuss strategies for collaborating on issues important to the health of Missourians.

Lyskowski has served in a number of senior leadership positions in the administration, including as Acting Director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety, Deputy Director of the Department of Health and Senior Services, Deputy Chief of Staff for the Governor, and Deputy Director of the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. He began his public service as an Assistant Attorney General for the state of Missouri. A native of Jefferson City, Lyskowski earned his bachelor’s degree from Truman State University and law degree from the University of Missouri.