Woody Myers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Woody Myers
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Myers in 2020
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| Health Commissioner of New York City | |
| In office March 30, 1990 – June 11, 1991 |
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| Mayor | David Dinkins |
| Preceded by | Stephen C. Joseph |
| Succeeded by | Margaret Hamburg |
| Health Commissioner of Indiana | |
| In office February 1985 – February 14, 1990 |
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| Governor | Robert D. Orr Evan Bayh |
| Preceded by | Themen Danielson (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Morris Green (Acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Woodrow Augustus Myers Jr.
February 14, 1954 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Stanford University (BS, MBA) Harvard University (MD) |
Woodrow Augustus Myers Jr. (born February 14, 1954) is an American doctor and politician. He was born in Indiana. He worked as the top health official for both Indiana and New York City. In 2020, he ran for governor of Indiana as the candidate for the Democratic Party. He lost the election to the person who was already governor, Eric Holcomb.
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Early Life and Education
Woody Myers grew up in Indianapolis. His father worked as a landscaper, taking care of gardens and outdoor areas. His mother was a school principal, leading a school. Myers was a very bright student. He finished Shortridge High School when he was only 16 years old. He then went to Stanford University and graduated at 19. By the time he was 23, he had finished Harvard Medical School to become a doctor. He also studied at Stanford's business school. There, he earned a special degree called a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Career Highlights
Before becoming a public health leader, Myers taught medicine. He was an assistant professor at the University of California, San Francisco. He also helped make sure patients received good care at San Francisco General Hospital.
Health Commissioner Roles
In 1985, the Governor of Indiana, Robert D. Orr, chose Myers to be Indiana's state health commissioner. This job meant he was in charge of public health for the entire state. When he started this important role, he weighed 418 pounds (about 190 kg). He decided to go on a special liquid diet. After one year, he lost a lot of weight, weighing 216 pounds (about 98 kg).
As Indiana's health commissioner, Myers supported Ryan White. Ryan was a teenager with AIDS. His school did not want him to attend classes. Myers helped Ryan in his legal fight to go to school. Myers also supported a law to keep records of people with HIV/AIDS. In 1987, President Ronald Reagan asked Myers to join a special group. This group was called the President's Commission on the HIV Epidemic. Myers left the group later that year because of disagreements among its members.
In 1990, Mayor David Dinkins appointed Myers as New York City's health commissioner. He was in charge of public health for the big city. He left this job in 1991. One reason was that some people did not agree with his ideas about HIV/AIDS policies. After that, Myers moved back to Indianapolis. He worked for several healthcare companies, including Wellpoint, Corizon Health, and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Political Journey
Woody Myers decided to enter politics as a Democrat. In 2008, he ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was running in Indiana's 7th district against André Carson. Myers came in second place in the primary election. He received 24% of the votes, while Carson received 46%.
In July 2019, Myers announced he would run for governor of Indiana in 2020. Other Democratic candidates, like State Senator Eddie Melton and Josh Owens, later left the race. This made Myers the only Democrat running for governor in Indiana. He officially became the party's candidate on June 2, 2020. His running mate, who would be lieutenant governor if he won, was Linda Lawson.
Myers campaigned on several key ideas. He wanted to invest more money in public education. He also supported changes to address climate change. Additionally, he wanted to create new rules for guns. In the election, Myers received about 32% of the votes. This was the lowest percentage of votes for a Democratic candidate for governor in Indiana's history.
Personal Life
Woody Myers is married to his wife, Stacy. They have five children together. One of his sons, Zachary A. Myers, is a lawyer. He currently serves as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. This means he is a top federal prosecutor in that area.
