Baltimore City, Maryland -- July 3, 2012-Governor Martin O'Malley has appointed Dr. Andrea Mathias to be the chair of the Maryland Board of Physicians.

'Dr. Mathias' broad experience in medicine and public health make her well suited for this challenging role,' said Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, Secretary for the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

She now serves as deputy health officer in Worcester County, where she has earned the respect of clinicians and public health leaders across the state. Dr. Mathias is a native of Worcester County and studied medicine and public health at Johns Hopkins University. She completed a residency and chief residency in family practice at UNC-Chapel-Hill before returning to Maryland. As a clinician, Dr. Mathias has worked as a managing partner in private practice, as a hospital-employed physician, and as a medical director.

'I am honored with this opportunity to serve physicians, allied professionals and medical consumers in Maryland as Chair of the Maryland Board of Physicians,' said Dr. Andrea Mathias. 'The Board of Physicians has a crucial role in the assurance of safe delivery of medical care and the protection of the public health in Maryland. This is an outstanding time to join the MBP and I am truly excited to join the dedicated staff and MBP members in this important task.'

The Governor also has appointed several new members of the Board of Physicians. These include Dr. Celeste M. Lombardi, M.D., an anesthesiologist and interventional pain physician at the VA Maryland Healthcare System; Dr. Ahmed Nawaz, an internist and hospitalist in Montgomery County; and Dr. Avril Houston, an adolescent medicine specialist who works at the Health Resources and Services Administration.

The Governor also is reappointing consumer members Brenda Baker and Carmen Contee to new terms on the Board and applauds their active participation and dedication to the public interest.