Governor-elect Phil Murphy announced Dr. Shereef Elnahal as his nominee to lead the Department of Health. 

Elnahal is a physician and currently serves as an assistant deputy undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He received a dual MD-MBA degree from Harvard University and completed his residency in radiation oncology at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Maryland.

Elnahal was appointed to the Department of Veterans Affairs as a White House fellow in 2015 by President Obama. He oversaw quality, safety and value programs. Elnahal, 32, grew up in Atlantic County and will be the first Muslim to lead a state agency. 

Elnahal will be officially nominated after Murphy is sworn in next Tuesday, Jan. 16, and will be subject to confirmation by the State Senate.