Edward Simmer, MD, MPH, DLFAPA, is the interim director of the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH). In this role, Simmer leads the cabinet agency and reports to Governor Henry McMaster.
Prior to being named interim director, Dr. Simmer was appointed as director of the South Carolina Department of Public Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) by the S.C. Board of Health and Environmental Control, and he assumed his duties upon confirmation on Feb. 4, 2021. As DHEC director, Dr. Simmer led a team of 4,000 dedicated professionals in the areas of public health, healthcare quality, and environmental protection. He oversaw the state’s response to COVID-19 and Mpox, led the agency’s response to two hurricanes, and ensured the state’s health care facilities provided high quality, safe care. He led all the states nearly 100 health departments and worked to improve the health of the people of South Carolina and the environment in which they live.
Prior to serving as DHEC director, Simmer served over 30 years on active duty in the United States Navy. In his most recent assignment, he served as the first Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Director for the TRICARE Health Plan at the Defense Health Agency in Falls Church, Virginia. In this role he was responsible for overseeing all clinical aspects of the civilian medical and dental care provided to the 9.5 million active-duty service members, military retirees, and their families worldwide. He also served as the first Officer-in-Charge of the Defense Health Agency Navy Element, creating the command from 27 formerly separate units and leading over 250 Sailors assigned to DHA worldwide.
A native of Ohio, Simmer received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Hiram College in 1986, his Doctor of Medicine degree from the Saint Louis University School of Medicine via the Navy Health Professions Scholarship Program in 1990, and his Master of Public Health degree from the Eastern Virginia Medical School/Old Dominion University Consortium in 2001. He is board certified in general and forensic psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. In addition, he is certified in administrative psychiatry by the American Psychiatric Association.
Upon completion of his psychiatry internship at Naval Hospital Portsmouth in 1991, Simmer reported for duty as the General Medical Officer aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise (CVN-65). He then returned to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth from 1993–1996 to complete his psychiatry residency training. After residency, he assumed duty as the division psychiatrist for the Second Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
In 1998, he returned to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, where he served as the Department Head for Psychiatry and then was appointed as the Director for Quality Management for the medical center.
Simmer also served as the Head of the Navy Medicine East Special Psychiatric Rapid Intervention Team (SPRINT), one of the Navy’s mental health disaster response teams. In this role he led numerous responses to traumatic incidents, including Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina and the U.S.S. Cole (DDG-67) bombing. He has also been active in graduate medical education, serving as the Command Intern Coordinator at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and subsequently as the Navy Specialty Leader for Interns.
In 2008, Simmer was selected as the first Senior Executive Director for Psychological Health at the Defense Centers of Excellence (DCoE) for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). In this role he was responsible for all psychological health efforts of DoD’s lead agency for psychological health and TBI.
In June 2010, Simmer assumed duties as Executive Officer (XO) of Naval Hospital Beaufort, South Carolina.
In 2012, he became the Commanding Officer (CO) of Naval Hospital Oak Harbor, Washington. As the CO, he successfully implemented a comprehensive restructuring of the hospital, while improving quality of care and patient satisfaction. Simmer has been married to his wife Peggy for over 35 years. He received the Defense Superior Service Medal (two awards) and numerous other personal, unit and campaign awards. He was also named one of Columbia Business Monthly’s 50 Most Influential people for 2021. He is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.