Bridging the Gap: Caring for Rural Georgia Moms

The keynote speaker will be Dr. Dean Burke. Dr. Burke serves as the Chief Medical Officer for the Medical Assistance Plans for the Department of Community Health (DCH). In this role, Dr. Burke leads the department’s efforts related to health performance and quality reporting within the Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids® populations.

Dean Burke M.D. currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Community Health, Georgia’s Healthcare finance and regulatory agency. DCH’s budget is over 4 billion dollars annually in state funds and 18+ billion in combined state and federal dollars. DCH manages the state’s Medicaid Program, Healthcare Planning, Health Facility Regulation, the State Health Benefit Program among other Divisions. Dr. Burke has direct oversight of SHBP and the State Office of Rural Health and advises the Commissioner of DCH on healthcare policy and oversight.

Dr. Burke’s passion is improving healthcare access and outcomes in Georgia with a focus on reducing maternal mortality and increasing wellness opportunities for all Georgians, particularly in the rural parts of the state.

Dr. Burke has previously served for 10 years as the State Senator for District 11, a large multi-county district in deep Southwest Georgia. Senator Burke served in Senate Leadership as Secretary/Treasurer of the majority caucus, the Chairman of the Insurance and Labor Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee and Ethics Committee, an Ex-Officio of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, the Secretary of Appropriations, and was a member of the Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee and the Rules Committee. He also served for eight years as the Chairman of the Community Health Appropriations Sub-Committee which is responsible for 14.1 percent of the states total budget.

His Senate career is highlighted by sponsoring significant pieces of legislation in partnership with Senate and House leadership and Governor’s Deal and Kemp, including the development of the Maternal Mortality Commission, the Rural Hospital Tax Credit program, establishment of the office of Governor’s office of Health Strategy and Coordination, the states All Payer Claims Database, The Rural Hospital Stabilization grant program, the rural hospital E-ICU grant program and the Maternal Mortality Prevention Grants overseen by Georgia Department of Public Health in addition to many other initiatives.

Prior to being elected to the State Senate, Senator Burke contributed to his community by serving five years on the Bainbridge City Council and the Lower Flint Water Council. He is also a member of the Rotary Club and former member of the Hospital Authority of the City of Bainbridge and Decatur County. Dr. Burke graduated Summa Cum Laude from Georgia Southwestern University and received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical College of Georgia. He received his specialty training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mercer University School of Medicine and practiced obstetrics and gynecology for 27 years in Decatur County. Prior to his current role at DCH he spent the prior 10 years as a rural hospital executive in the role of Chief Medical Officer at Memorial Hospital and Manor in Bainbridge.

Dr. Burke and his wife, Thea, have been married for 44 plus years, have two children, and three grandchildren.