Dr. Kristina Box. Provided photo
INDIANAPOLIS — Gov. Eric Holcomb has appointed an Indianapolis doctor of obstetrics and gynecology to serve as Indiana's new health commissioner.
Dr. Kristina Box has worked more than 30 years at Community Health Network, where she's championed women's health issues, led efforts to reduce the cost of health care and worked to ensure low-income women received free health screenings.
She also was a member of Indiana's task force on neonatal abstinence which developed a system to help pregnant women with opioid addiction get treatment sooner to minimize negative health outcomes for mothers and babies.
"I can think of no one better suited than Dr. Box to lead our state’s health department at this critical time in Indiana history," said Holcomb, a Republican.
"She brings a wealth of deep knowledge and experience, and she is uniquely qualified to lead our state's efforts to curb infant mortality rates and attack the opioid epidemic."
Box said she looks forward, in her new role, "to working closely with our team at the Indiana State Department of Health to decrease infant mortality and on many other issues to promote a healthier and safer Indiana."
State Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, chairman of the Senate Health Committee, thanked Holcomb for expediting Box's appointment and vowed to collaborate with her "as we work toward making Indiana a healthier state."
Box succeeds Dr. Jerome Adams who recently took office as U.S. surgeon general.
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