Kenney’s administration keeps growing. The latest to join the team is Thomas A. Farley, who was appointed Commissioner of the Philadelphia Department of Health.

Farley, a pediatrician, is not new to this kind of job, having work as New York’s health commissioner.

According to Kenney’s communications team, Farley’s department led efforts to reduce sodium levels in food nationwide during his time in New York City. He also worked on the development of successful campaigns, such as the “Two Drinks Ago” campaign which focused on reducing binge drinking, as well as an ad series on the consequences of smoking.

Tobacco is one of Farley’s biggest concerns. He has advocated for policies like prohibiting price discounting of cigarettes, raising the legal sale age to 21, and making the city’s parks and waterfronts smoke-free.

“Ensuring the health of our citizens is one of our city’s greatest responsibilities, and a priority of my administration,” said Kenney. “Dr. Farley’s ‘out-of-the-box approach’ to public health, along with his medical expertise and his experience running one of the largest health departments in the nation will make him a valuable an asset to Philadelphia.”

Prior to this position, Farley served as chief executive officer of the nonprofit The Public Good Projects, and as chair of the Department of Community Health Sciences at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. He also served at the Centers for Disease Control's Epidemic Intelligence Service earlier in his career.

Farley said in a statement that he is “inspired by Mayor Kenney’s commitment to the people of Philadelphia and by the team he has assembled.”

“The job of the city’s health commissioner is to help make Philadelphia a healthy place in which to live, work, and play,” he said.  “The Philadelphia Department of Public Health already has a strong group of professionals who have made real progress toward that goal.  I’m excited to help the city take the next steps to becoming one of the healthiest cities in the nation.”