Shereef Elnahal

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Shereef Elnahal (born June 5, 1985) is an American physician who has led major health programs in New Jersey and the federal government. He served as the United States Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health from July 21, 2022, to January 20, 2025, under President Joe Biden and Secretary Denis McDonough. He was confirmed on July 21, 2022, and sworn in the same day, and he resigned on January 20, 2025, at the start of President Donald J. Trump’s term.

Earlier, Elnahal was the 21st Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health from January 2018 to July 2019 under Governor Phil Murphy. He then became president and CEO of University Hospital in Newark from 2019 to 2022. He also previously served as Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Quality, Safety and Value from 2016 to 2018, and in 2015 he was named a White House Fellow.

Personal background: Elnahal is the son of physicians who emigrated from Egypt. He grew up in Linwood and Galloway Township, New Jersey, attended St. Augustine Preparatory School and Mainland Regional High School (graduating in 2003). He earned a BA in biophysics from Johns Hopkins University and an MD and MBA from Harvard University.

Key achievements:
- At the New Jersey Department of Health, he worked to fight the opioid crisis by expanding syringe access and harm reduction, funding to connect addiction providers to electronic health records and a statewide health information exchange, and reducing barriers to medication-assisted treatment. On June 24, 2019, he allowed paramedics to give buprenorphine in the field after naloxone for overdoses, making New Jersey the first state to do so.
- He helped restore state funding for family planning, resulting in more women being served, more STD tests, and expanded clinic hours and staff.
- He worked with New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy on maternal and infant health initiatives, including the Nurture NJ program.
- He expanded participation in the New Jersey Health Information Network, bringing many hospitals, clinics, and doctors into the system and tying some funding to joining.
- He expanded New Jersey’s medical marijuana program, increasing the number of dispensaries, patients, and participating physicians.