Dr. Letitia Dzirasa Named Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services, John David Merrill Appointed Deputy Chief of Staff

BALTIMORE, MD (Wednesday, July 2, 2025) — Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced two appointments in his administration.

Dr. Letitia Dzirasa will return to the Mayor’s Office to serve as Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services. Dr. Dzirasa has served the city of Baltimore in numerous roles over the years, including as Baltimore City Commissioner of Health and Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services. As, Dr. Dzirasa returns to the role of Deputy Mayor, she believes that equitable care is a basic right for all and will tirelessly advocate for programs that support the overall health and wellbeing of all Baltimore city residents. 

John David “J.D.” Merrill was previously Deputy Chief of Staff, but stepped in as interim Deputy Mayor for Equity, Health, and Human Services beginning in June 2024. He now returns to his role as Deputy Chief, supporting several Mayoral offices as well as the Mayor’s relationships with the philanthropic community, and will continue to work with City Schools and the Enoch Pratt Library.

“We have two great leaders in Dr. D and JD, and I am so proud to have them both on my team as we work to expand opportunity for all Baltimoreans,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “Especially right now, with equity and DEI under attack, they recognize the value and importance of giving all of our residents the tools and resources they need to reach their full potential. I can’t think of two better people to help shape a healthier, stronger, safer, more equitable City for our residents.”

Prior to joining the Health Department, Dr. Dzirasa worked at Fearless Solutions (Fearless), a Baltimore based digital services firm that builds custom software solutions for local and federal government clients. In her role at Fearless as Health Innovation Officer, Dr. Dzirasa was responsible for managing the Healthcare IT portfolio for the company and provided clinical subject matter expertise to HIT projects. Dr. Dzirasa also has close clinical ties to the Baltimore community, having trained at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in pediatrics and having worked as medical director for school based health and quality at Baltimore Medical System from 2013-2016.  

"I’m honored to be reappointed as Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services by Mayor Scott,” said Dr. Letitia Dzirasa. “I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving the residents of Baltimore. With deep passion and unwavering dedication to public service, I remain committed to advancing health equity, strengthening our public health and social service systems, and working alongside our communities and City leaders to build a healthier, more resilient city.”

In addition to holding a B.S. from University of Maryland, Baltimore County in biological sciences, Dr. Dzirasa graduated from Meharry Medical College, Summa Cum Laude, in 2007.  She lives in downtown Baltimore with her husband and son.

While serving as interim Deputy Mayor, John David “J.D.” Merrill supported a cluster of agencies working to advance the health and well-being of Baltimore City residents. These agencies include Baltimore City Recreation and Parks, the Baltimore City Health Department, the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services, the Mayor’s Office of Children and Family Success, the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, the Mayor’s Office of African American Male Engagement, and served as the Mayor’s liaison to City Schools and the Enoch Pratt Library.

“It has been an incredible honor to serve as interim Deputy Mayor for Equity, Health, and Human Services,” said Deputy Chief of Staff John David Merrill “I’m grateful for the agency heads I’ve had the chance to support and for their tireless work to make Baltimore a healthier and more equitable city. I’m especially thankful for interim Assistant Deputy Mayor Noell Lugay who was my partner in this work. Mayor Scott is building an all-star team for his second term, and I’m thrilled Dr. Letitia Dzirasa is returning to this role. Her expertise, leadership, and passion for health equity are unmatched. I look forward to ensuring a seamless transition as she resumes this critical work.”

As interim Deputy Mayor, Merrill helped launch Baltimore’s first office of Overdose Response, Overdose Cabinet, and OverdoseStat, reimagined YouthStat, helped coordinate the Mayor’s summer youth engagement strategy, helped improve customer satisfaction at our public pools, helped enhance programming at our late-night recreation centers, and helped expand middle school athletics.

Prior to working in City Hall, Merrill spent ten years working with Baltimore City Public Schools as a teacher, district administrator, school administrator, and consultant. He earned his M.S. from Johns Hopkins School of Education, his B.A. from Davidson College, and his high school diploma from Baltimore City College, the third oldest public high school in the United States.