84R7549 KSM-D
By: Crownover H.R. No. 396
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, After eight years of exceptional service as
commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services,
Dr. David L. Lakey concluded his tenure in that important post on
January 30, 2015; and
WHEREAS, This skilled medical professional became
commissioner of DSHS in January 2007, taking charge of one of the
state's largest agencies; he was responsible for overseeing
programs to address such urgent issues as disease prevention,
disaster preparedness, environmental and consumer safety, and
family and community health services; his outstanding leadership
abilities were demonstrated on a number of occasions, most recently
in response to the Ebola virus outbreak in 2014, when he played a
key part in coordinating the state's efforts to contain the
disease; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Lakey is a graduate of the Indiana University
School of Medicine, and he completed his residency in internal
medicine and a fellowship in adult and pediatric infectious disease
at Vanderbilt University Medical Center; before joining DSHS, he
served as an associate professor of medicine for eight years at The
University of Texas Health Science Center in Tyler, where he was
also chief of the Division of Clinical Infectious Disease and
medical director of the Center for Pulmonary and Infectious Disease
Control; in addition, he excelled in his duties as the associate
director for infectious disease and biosecurity at the UT Center
for Biosecurity and Public Health Preparedness, and he was
responsible for leading a bioterrorism preparedness committee for
34 hospitals and for guiding the development of the Public Health
Laboratory of East Texas; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Lakey left his post as commissioner to accept a
first-ever joint appointment with The University of Texas System
and UT Health Northeast, in which he will focus on improving health
outcomes throughout the state; in this role, he will continue to
make important contributions that will help safeguard the
well-being of Texas residents, furthering his notable legacy of
public service; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby commend Dr. David L. Lakey for his
accomplishments as commissioner of the Texas Department of State
Health Services and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued
success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Dr. Lakey as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.