Wayne Turnage, M.P.A.
Director - District of Columbia Department of Health Care Finance

Wayne Turnage is the Director of the Washington DC Department of Health Care Finance. Director Turnage was appointed by DC Mayor Vincent Gray in January 2011.

Prior to this time, Director Turnage served as the Chief of Staff at Virginia Commonwealth University. Director Turnage accepted this position after serving two Virginia Governors— he was the Chief of Staff for Governor Timothy M. Kaine, preceding that role by serving dual positions for Governor Mark Warner as Director of Policy and Research at the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services and Advisor for Special Projects for Governor Mark R. Warner (2004 to 2006).

Before 2004, Director Turnage worked as Governor Warner’s Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources (2002 to 2004), and as a researcher for both public and private organizations (1985 to 2002). Most of his research career was spent at the Virginia Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission where he was the principal author for more than 15 studies.

His work includes studies of health care and public safety. Some of the topics addressed in these studies include the adequacy of Virginia’s Medicaid hospital reimbursement system, the use of Medicaid asset transfers and estate recovery, and the financing of Medicaid long-term care services. Also, while working in the Governor’s Cabinet, Director Turnage authored a study on funding the mission-related activities of Virginia’s Academic Health Centers. The National Legislative Program Evaluation Society selected two of Director Turnage's studies for excellence in research methods awards.

Director Turnage is a graduate of Ohio State University (Master of Public Administration, 1982) and North Carolina A&T State University (BS, 1980).

William P. White
District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking

William P. White was appointed Insurance Commissioner by Mayor Vincent C. Gray on February 4, 2011, pending confirmation by the Council of the District of Columbia.

White is a seasoned insurance and risk-finance professional with broad experience in both industry-leading firms and high-level positions with government regulatory agencies. Since 2003, he has been a consultant with Prism Strategies, which included a regulatory appointment in 2003–2004 with the Captive Insurance Division of the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking. White specializes in developing alternative risk transfer (ART) transactions and captive insurance entities for businesses and domicile development including market coordination and regulatory strategies for government agencies.

White earned his bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and his MBA from New York University, and an Associate in Reinsurance designation from the Insurance Institute of America.

Dr. Mohammad N. Akhter
Director, DC Department of Health

Dr. Mohammad N. Akhter is the Director of the DC Department of Health. Prior to joining the Department in January, 2011 Dr. Akhter was a Professor at Howard University College of Medicine. He also served from 2002-2005 as the Senior Associate Dean for Public and International Health at Howard University College of Medicine.

Under Dr. Akhter's leadership, the DC Department of Health is focused on improving the quality of care in the District. His top priorities include implementation of healthcare reform, expansion of HIV services and making them available on demand, supporting the training programs for DC residents to qualify for jobs in healthcare and improving access to quality care across the District.

Prior to joining the Howard University faculty, Dr. Akhter served as the Executive Director of the National Medical Association where he focused on healthcare reforms and eliminating health disparities.

Dr. Akhter was Executive Director of the American Public Health Association (APHA) from 1997-2002. He was instrumental in expanding APHA's scientific base and in strengthening its advocacy role in protecting the health of the American people.

Dr. Akhter was Commissioner of Public Health for the District of Columbia from 1991-1994. He subsequently served as a Senior Advisor in the US Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Health Care Policy and Quality.

A native of Pakistan, Dr. Akhter received his medical degree from the King Edward Medical College in Lahore, Pakistan. He received a master's degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University. He is board certified by the American Board of Preventive Medicine. Dr Akhter is married to Jeanette Easton Akhter, MD and they have a daughter Sarah.