Carroll County hires Dr. Matthew Levy as health officer; opioid settlement funds managed through state steering process

The Carroll County Health Department introduced Dr. Matthew Levy as the county’s new health officer at the Sept. 25 Board of Commissioners meeting and described local arrangements for distributing opioid‑settlement funding and other grant resources.

“My name is doctor Matt Levy. I am a community pediatrician by training and practice,” Dr. Levy told the commissioners, summarizing a career that includes community pediatrics programs at MedStar Georgetown, a Robert Wood Johnson health‑policy fellowship, roles with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and the Medical College of Wisconsin, and a recent health‑officer post in Prince George’s County. He said he started with Carroll County on or about July 23 and that much of his initial work has focused on credentialing, standing orders and coordination with Carroll County Public Schools.

Health Department leadership also explained how the county handles opioid settlement funds and other state or federal grants. “The opioid settlement fees, there’s several sets. Some come directly to Westminster, some come to the county commissioners,” Health Officer Sue Doyle said, adding that some funds are routed through Maryland’s Office of Overdose Response (the state structure that administers certain settlement monies) and that the county uses its overdose‑prevention policy and planning group to vet local spending priorities and applications.

Doyle said the county coordinates spending requests with a local steering group so proposed uses align with county priorities and the state’s requirements; she also noted that funding rules and eligible uses differ among settlement streams. She said the county has taken steps to ensure that applications for opioid‑related funds align with the county’s overdose strategy and other priorities, and she confirmed the health department will present a revised strategic plan and progress report in December.

Doyle and commissioners discussed staffing: the health department said it has offered a deputy health‑officer position and continues to recruit for other leadership roles funded in part by the CDC public‑health infrastructure grant. Commissioners asked that staff raise any timing or onboarding issues if grant‑funded positions risk lapsing or causing unspent funds, so the board can assist with process timing as needed.

Dr. Levy and commissioners discussed county programs and partnerships, including school health services, behavioral‑health coordination and opportunities to formalize how the county board acts as the local board of health. Commissioners welcomed Dr. Levy and thanked Health Department staff for ongoing overdose‑prevention coordination.