N.Y. Pub. Health Law § 208

§ 208. Deputy commissioners; appointment; qualifications and duties.\n1. The commissioner shall appoint and at pleasure remove a first deputy\ncommissioner and such other deputy commissioners as he shall deem\nnecessary for the proper organization and general classification of the\nwork of the department.\n 2. The first deputy commissioner shall be a physician licensed or\neligible for license to practice medicine and surgery in this state, and\nwho shall have been actively engaged in the practice of his profession\nfor a period of at least five years.\n 3. The deputy commissioners shall perform such duties as shall be\nprescribed by the commissioner.\n