Elizabeth Hertel has been named the new director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, replacing Robert Gordon, who resigned Friday.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office said she had accepted Gordon’s resignation and appointed his senior chief deputy, Elizabeth Hertel, as the department’s new director.
Hertel, who previously served as senior chief deputy director for administration for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), will be leading the 14,000-employee department.
“Elizabeth Hertel has dedicated her career to protecting Michiganders’ public health, and she is uniquely prepared to lead MDHHS as we continue working together to end the COVID-19 pandemic,” Whitmer said.
Hertel is optimistic about Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s goal to administer 50,000 COVID-19 vaccines per day. Michigan is currently behind schedule and has only been receiving about 60,000 vaccine doses per week.
Whitmer has said she would like to get 70% of Michiganders above the age of 16 vaccinated by the end of 2021.
