Tower Health announced today that Debra L. Powell, MD, MS, FIDSA, has been appointed to the role of Chair, Department of Medicine effective September 1, 2023. She has been serving as interim chair since September 2022.
In this role, she provides leadership for the largest clinical department of Tower Health, the Department of Medicine. The department, comprised of both physicians and Advanced Practice Practitioners, spans 14 divisions of medicine and is dedicated to providing high-quality patient care, medical education, and research. Dr. Powell will also continue in her roles as Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases; Medical Director, Infection Prevention; and Co-Director, Tower Health Antibiotic Stewardship.
Dr. Powell began her career at Reading Hospital as a Medical Technologist in the Microbiology Department before going on to receive her medical degree from Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine. She later returned to Reading Hospital as a resident in Internal Medicine, and went on to become Chief of Infectious Diseases in 2014, Medical Director for Infection Prevention in 2017, Co-Director for the Antibiotic Stewardship Program in 2017, and now the Chair for the Department of Medicine in 2023.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she worked tirelessly to ensure the health and safety of patients, colleagues, and the community. Dr. Powell has been recognized for her service and research numerous times over the years and was recently awarded the Pennsylvania Medical Society’s Excellent Care throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic Award in March 2022, as well as the Lehigh Valley Business Circle of Excellence’s Women of Influence Award in April 2022.
About Tower Health
Tower Health is a regional integrated healthcare system that offers compassionate, high quality, leading edge healthcare and wellness services to communities in Berks, Chester, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties. With approximately 11,500 employees, Tower Health consists of Reading Hospital in West Reading; Phoenixville Hospital in Phoenixville; Pottstown Hospital in Pottstown; and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, in partnership with Drexel University. Tower Health is strongly committed to academic medicine and training, including multiple residency and fellowship programs, the Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health, and the Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences in West Reading. The system also includes Reading Hospital Rehabilitation at Wyomissing; home healthcare provided by Tower Health at Home; TowerDirect ambulance and emergency response; Tower Health Medical Group; Tower Health Providers, our clinically integrated network; and 25 Tower Health Urgent Care facilities across our service area. For more information, visit towerhealth.org.