Office of African American Affairs
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Milwaukee Health Department
Mayor Cavalier Johnson appointed Dr. Michael Totoraitis as Commissioner of Health in May 2023. Dr. Totoraitis was reappointed by Mayor Johnson in May of 2024 to serve a four year term. As Commissioner of Health, he oversees the department and serves as the health officer for the City of Milwaukee. The department maintains approximately 240 full time staff and an annual budget of nearly $40 million dollars. Following federal guidance, Wisconsin statutes and local ordinances, Dr. Totoraitis leads the department through those mandates and sets the strategic priorities for the department. Key priorities for Dr. Totoraitis are working towards the department's public health accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), completing the department's strategic plan, and innovating the department's data infrastructure and performance management.
He has been with the Milwaukee Health Department since September 2021, previously serving as the director of health data and evaluation leading the epidemiologists and data team during the Covid-19 pandemic. Earlier in his career as a program supervisor at Safe & Sound, he managed community organizing work. He previously worked for the health department as a violence prevention research coordinator in the department's former Office of Violence Prevention. During this time, he co-authored a manual focused on establishing public health violent incident review teams. His career has largely focused on violence prevention and working at the crossroads of institutions and community engagement.
Dr. Totoraitis earned his Ph.D. in public and community health from the Medical College of Wisconsin focusing on childhood maltreatment and resilience. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in criminology and law studies from Marquette University. Dr. Totoraitis is an active member of the Wisconsin Public Health Association, the Wisconsin Association of Local Health Departments and Boards, and holds an adjunct appointment to University of Wisconsin Milwaukee's College of Public Health.