Timothy Westlake headed for SAMHSA administrator position

Last week, the nomination of Timothy Westlake, M.D., to be director of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) was approved by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. The vote, held September 24, followed Westlake's consideration by the committee at a September 16 hearing. Westlake, a board‐certified emergency medicine physician and public health official, is currently SAMHSA chief of staff. President Trump nominated Westlake for the position in July. The vote was tk. There has been no SAMHSA leader for almost two years.