Santa Fe Standard

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that Patrick M. Allen will step down as the Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Health at the end of today. Allen has been part of the administration for about two years.

“Pat has been a dedicated public servant, and I’m grateful for his contributions as secretary for the Department of Health. I wish him well in his next endeavor,” stated Lujan Grisham.

Gina DeBlassie, currently serving as the governor’s health policy advisor, will assume the role of interim cabinet secretary for the department. DeBlassie has over 30 years of experience in healthcare and has played a significant role in advancing legislation to enhance healthcare access across New Mexico. Her leadership has been key in establishing initiatives like the Health Care Authority and the Rural Health Care Delivery Fund.

Before joining Gov. Lujan Grisham’s team, DeBlassie was chief operating officer for a national All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly provider program, where she managed operations across multiple states and led efforts to expand programs benefiting seniors.

DeBlassie earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and has served on several non-profit boards.

For further information regarding this announcement, contact Robert Nott at (Office).