December 11, 2012

Gov. Nixon names deputy director Gail Vasterling as acting director for Department of Health and Senior Services

JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Jay Nixon today named deputy director Gail Vasterling to serve as the acting director for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. The position of director became vacant on Dec. 7 with the departure of Director Margaret Donnelly, who left to teach health law at the Saint Louis University School of Law.

"As director, Margaret and her team worked tirelessly to protect the health of Missourians, particularly our seniors, and I appreciated her able leadership," Gov. Nixon said. "I am confident that this strong level of protection of our citizens' health will continue under Gail as acting director."

Vasterling became deputy director of the department in January 2012, and was the liaison to the department for the Governor when she served as the Governor's deputy counsel from April 2010 to January 2012. Prior to joining the Governor's Office, she was general counsel for the Department of Corrections from January 2009 to April 2010.

Vasterling was with the Attorney General's Office from 1994 to 2008, eventually becoming chief counsel for the office's litigation division. She earned her law degree from Washington University School of Law and her undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Missouri.

Donnelly was named as director of the Department of Health and Senior Services by Gov. Nixon in January 2009.