Louisiana has a surgeon general; here's who Governor Jeff Landry appointed to the new job

Greg Hilburn, Shreveport Times
·1 min read
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Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has shifted health Secretary Ralph Abraham to the newly-created position of surgeon general and promoted current undersecretary Michael Harrington to lead the agency as its top executive.

The Legislature passed a bill this spring creating the office of state surgeon general to replace the previous role of chief medical officer. Landry signed it into law Tuesday. The surgeon general is appointed by the governor rather than the agency secretary as had been the chief medical officer.

"This puts Louisiana ahead of the game along with six other states having a physician in charge working side by side with the secretary as CEO," Landry said during a press conference Tuesday. "It places a doctor to oversee the health plan of Louisiana and an executive to oversee the department.

"It's a better way to modernize Louisiana's healthcare and policies."

Abraham, a doctor who lives in Alto and continues to practice in northeastern Louisiana, was the 5th District congressman from 2015-2021, limiting himself to three terms as part of a campaign promise. He also ran an unsuccessful campaign for governor in 2019.

Louisiana Gov.-elect Jeff Landry announced three cabinet appointments at the University of Louisiana at Monroe Library on Dec. 20, 2023. Pictured left to right are David Matlock, secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services, Dr. Ralph Abraham, secretary of the Department of Health, Landry, future First Lady Sharon Landry and Madison Sheahan, secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Landry announced Abraham as secretary in December before Landry took office. He had also appointed Harrington as the undersecretary in December before announcing his promotion Tuesday.

"Putting the patient first is foremost in our dialogue," Abraham said. "We're putting aside everything in the way of the patient-doctor relationship to move up from 49th (in healthcare) to where we deserve to be.

"We're going to change policies that have been holding us back. We will work with hospitals, doctors, medical schools, universities and everybody in that healthcare chain."

More: Jeff Landry names secretaries of health, wildlife, family services in blockbuster appointments

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1. 

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has given Ralph Abraham a new job; details here