Governor Rell Nominates Rehmer for DMHAS

            Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced she has nominated Patricia Rehmer to serve as Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), permanently replacing retired Commissioner Thomas Kirk.

            Rehmer, 49, of West Hartford has been serving as Acting Commissioner of the agency since Kirk’s retirement.

            “Pat Rehmer’s quarter-century of service in mental health agencies – including her five years as Deputy Commissioner at DMHAS – and her commitment to the health and welfare of our residents make her the ideal candidate for this position,” Governor Rell said. “I am confident she will continue the tremendous success that DMHAS has had in focusing on recovery, community-oriented services and personal development.

            “The services that DMHAS provides have always been crucial to our state’s well-being,” the Governor said. “That is all the more true as the state and its residents cope with some of the worst economic times in our history. Strong partnerships and cooperation among stakeholders will be necessary as we move ahead, and Pat already has a legacy as a leader in forming exactly those kinds of collaborations. I am confident the Legislature will look favorably on her nomination.”

            Rehmer joined DMHAS in 1999 and has been Deputy Commissioner since 2004. She had led a range of agency initiatives and manages the state’s inpatient and community services and also has responsibility for Young Adult Services and Statewide Services.

            A former chief executive officer of the Capitol Region Mental Health Center in Hartford, Rehmer also worked for many years at the Institute of Living in Hartford and Hartford Hospital. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Skidmore College and her master’s from St. Joseph College.

            “I am honored to have this opportunity to serve the state of Connecticut as Commissioner,” Rehmer said. “I am grateful to Governor Rell for her support. While we are faced with many challenges, I am committed to building on our successes. I plan to maintain our emphasis on promoting a recovery-oriented system of care that is viewed among the nation’s behavioral healthcare leaders.”