COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Senate Medical Affairs Committee on Wednesday approved the nomination of Robert M. Kerr as director of the state Health and Human Services Department.

The nomination is pending approval from the full Senate.

Kerr, 42, has served as chief financial officer at the department since 1999. He also has served as director of internal audit and compliance for the agency during his 17 years with the agency.

A 1981 graduate of the University of South Carolina, Kerr takes over an agency with a total budget of $3.7 billion. The department oversees Medicaid, the health insurance program for the poor and elderly.