Today Mayor Cara Spencer announces the hiring of Dr. Faisal Khan as the city’s new Director of Health. Khan’s deep experience and vision for the department will be key to addressing long-standing public health challenges in St Louis.”Dr. Khan is a leader with deep regional knowledge and national executive experience, and we are thrilled he agreed to return to St. Louis and join our efforts to take the St. Louis Health Department to the next level,” said Mayor Cara Spencer. “This is a critical role in my cabinet and I am confident he is the right person at the right time to lead our efforts addressing the serious public health risks facing St. Louisans. His proven leadership and experience will help us make our community healthier and more resilient.”Most recently Khan successfully led the Seattle & King County (WA) Health Department, one of the largest in the nation. His choice to return to St. Louis is intentional, bringing the best of this experience back to St. Louis where he worked for nearly a decade in leadership at the St. Louis County Department of Health. “I am honored Mayor Spencer trusted me with this role and I look forward to getting to work for the people of St. Louis,” said Dr. Faisal Khan. “I have spent my career studying and addressing the root causes of health outcomes. I know with the team the city has in place, we can make a real difference in the health and quality of life for St. Louis residents.”Victoria Anwuri, the St. Louis Commissioner of Health, served as the Interim Director of the St. Louis Department of Health since 2025. She will continue to serve as the Commissioner of Health.”I want to express my deep gratitude to Commissioner Anwuri for her superb leadership of the Department of Health for the past year as we searched for a new permanent Health Director,” said Spencer. “Commissioner Anwuri’s commitment to the health of all St. Louis residents is evident in everything she does and in the results the Department achieved under her leadership during the last year.”Dr. Khan’s first day as Director will be August 3, 2026. 

Author