Ducey names Don Herrington interim Arizona Department of Health Services director
Aug 26, 2021, 11:01 AM
Don Herrington (Arizona Governor's Office Photo)
(Arizona Governor's Office Photo)
PHOENIX — Gov. Doug Ducey announced Thursday that public health veteran Don Herrington will take over as interim director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, replacing Dr. Cara Christ.
Herrington, who has spent 21 years with the state agency and is its deputy director for planning and operations, will take over for Christ, whose final day is Friday.
“I am grateful for Gov. Ducey’s confidence in my abilities to lead ADHS,” Herrington said in a press release. “We have an extraordinary group of individuals at the department and I’m honored to lead this team.
“I look forward to promoting and protecting the health of everyone who calls Arizona home.”
Ducey also said Dr. Richard Carmona, a previous Surgeon General of the United States, will join the agency as its senior advisor on public health emergency preparedness.
Carmona, who worked with a team at the University of Arizona to study COVID-19 trends, will lead a statewide effort to boost vaccine and public health awareness, according to the release.
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“I am honored Gov. Ducey is entrusting me with this position,” Carmona said in the release. “We have made a tremendous amount of progress but we still have much to do.”
Christ said last month she was leaving ADHS to become chief medical officer for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.
An infectious disease epidemiologist, Christ has been with ADHS since 2008 and took over as director in May 2015.
Herrington oversees policy development, the department’s budget, and hiring professional and support staff in his role as deputy director for planning and operations.
“Don’s leadership at ADHS and depth of knowledge of the department’s core functions make him well suited to serve as interim director,” Ducey said in the release.
“Of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Dr. Christ for her extraordinary service and leadership, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Don has big shoes to fill, but I know that he’s up for the challenge.”
