2020 Nurse of the Year

Sharon Lewis, DHA, RN-BC, CPM Interim Senior Deputy Director Department of Health Health Regulation and Licensing Administration Dr. Sharon Lewis is the Interim Senior Deputy Director at the Department of Health, Health Regulation and Licensing Administration (HRLA). She is responsible for the oversight of 19 professional boards, 49 health professions, Food Safety for over 5,000 establishments, Rodent and Vector Control, Animal Services, Pharmaceutical Control, Radiation, Health Care Facilities, Clinical Laboratories, Intermediate Care Facilities, Criminal background check and the Compliance and Investigations Division. Under her leadership, staff of HRLA conducts the survey operations for the licensing and certification of facilities and the licensing of professionals. Dr. Lewis has 30 years of government service. She is a Registered Nurse and has a Doctorate in Health Care Administration. Her doctoral thesis is entitled, PHYSICIANS’ AND CONSUMERS’ PERSPECTIVES ON MEDICAL NECESSITY AND ITS IMPACT ON PATIENT CARE. Dr. Lewis is a Certified Public Manager, and has completed Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, executive program on Strategic Management of Regulatory and Enforcement Agencies. She was a clinical investigator for an Infusion Pump study for the Food and Drug Administration and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s Patient Safety Improvement Corp. Dr. Lewis is currently pursuing a Certificate in International Health. She is the author of a case study on HIV testing published in a Health Administration Leadership and Management text. Finally, Dr. Lewis is an active participant in various health care provider associations. Quilting is a hobby she enjoys during her spare time. Dr. Lewis’ focus is to foster quality care for the constituents of the District of Columbia that receive health care services from programs that come under her purview as well the licensing of professionals.