Jim Shulman has been appointed deputy commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Health and will serve as second in command to Health Commissioner Susan R. Cooper, M.S.N., R.N.
As Deputy Commissioner, Shulman will provide direct supervision to the Health Department’s Office of Legislative Services; Office of Communications; Office of Information and Technology Services; Office of Policy, Planning and Assessment; and Division of Minority Health and Health Disparities Elimination. He will also provide policy guidance and support to the following bureaus and offices within the Department: Bureau of Administrative Services, Bureau of Health Licensure and Regulation, Bureau of Health Services Administration, Office of Laboratory Services, Office of General Counsel, Office of Internal Audit and Office of Human Resources. He will also play a major role in managing Safety Net programs for the department.
Shulman comes to the Department of Health with nearly two decades of service to the state of Tennessee. He transitions from the Department of Finance and Administration, where he served as executive assistant to Commissioner Dave Goetz.
Shulman’s previous experience in Tennessee state government includes serving as assistant commissioner for the Bureau of TennCare, Chief of Staff for Speaker of the House Jimmy Naifeh, assistant for legislative affairs for Gov. Ned McWherter, and general counsel for the Department of Finance. Mr. Shulman also helped implement Gov. Bredesen’s health care Safety Net and helped draft legislation to create the Cover Tennessee insurance plan.
Shulman also served in local government in Nashville as a member of the Metro Council from 1999 until 2007. He served two terms as a councilman and chaired the Budget, Public Works and Transportation committees.
“Jim has an impressive background in public service in Tennessee and a wealth of knowledge of the health care needs of our citizens," said Commissioner Cooper. "He is the ideal choice for this important administrative position.”
A Tennessee native who grew up in Johnson City, Shulman earned both his B.S. and J.D. at Vanderbilt.