A long-time bureaucrat, Don Herrington, has been chosen to serve as the interim director of the Arizona Department of Health Services. The 21 year veteran of the Department succeeds Dr. Cara Christ, who announced in July that she would be passing through the revolving door to join Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona as chief medical officer.
Ducey and Herrington, according to a press release, together named former Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Richard Carmona, to serve as the senior advisor on public health emergency preparedness and lead a statewide effort to promote the COVID-19 vaccine.
Herrington currently serves as the Arizona Department of Health Services’ (ADHS) Deputy Director for Planning and Operations. In this role he oversees policy development, hiring professional and support staff and the department’s budget.
“I am grateful for Governor Ducey’s confidence in my abilities to lead ADHS,” said Herrington. “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.”
Prior to serving as Deputy Director, Herrington served as Assistant Director of Public Health Preparedness and Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Epidemiology and Disease Control Services. He served on numerous councils, commissions and committees on behalf of the Director of ADHS, including Chair of the Arizona Sanitarians’ Council, Chair of the Arizona Infection Prevention and Control Advisory Committee, and as one of five voting members of the Arizona Emergency Response Commission.