Mental Health Committee Nominates OPWDD Commissioner and Chairman of the Commission on Qaulity of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilites

Albany  – Senator Roy McDonald announced that the Senate Mental Health Committee approved two nominations, one for the Commissioner of the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and for the Chairman on the Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities, on Monday April 11, 2011.

Courtney E. Burke will be considered for the position of Commissioner of OPWDD. Prior to her role as interim OPWDD Commissioner, Burke was the director of the Rockefeller Institute’s New York State Health Policy Research Center and also worked for New York State Office of Advocate for Persons with Disabilities and the New York State Department of Health.

Roger Bearden will be considered for the positions of Member and Chairman of the Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities. His previous positions include serving as the Director of the Disability Law Center of the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest in New York City, Chief Health Counsel for Senate Health Committee, and as an attorney with Disability Advocates Inc.

“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to nominate these two great individuals to serve and work on this very significant issue. Providing services for those with disabilities and their loved ones is one of the most important responsibilities we have in government,” said Senator McDonald.