More leadership named for new Utah HHS department

As the merger of the Utah Department of Health and Department of Human Services (DHS) approaches, the state has announced additional leadership appointments for the upcoming Utah Department of Health and Human Services. The announcement was made by Tracy Gruber, current DHS executive director who was appointed by Gov. Spencer Cox earlier to head the new department.

Named to oversee operations and guide the next levels of detail in policy, procedure and culture for the new agency are Dr. Michelle Hofmann as executive medical director and state health officer, Nathan Winters as deputy director of operations, Amanda Slater as assistant deputy director of operations, Nathan Checketts as deputy director of healthcare administration, Tonya Hales as assistant deputy director of healthcare administration, David Litvack as deputy director of community health and well-being and Heather Borski as assistant deputy director of community health and well-being.

“We are assembling a talented and experienced team of leaders who are well-equipped to meet the goals of the consolidation and the Department of Health and Human Services, which is to ensure that all Utahns are healthy and safe,” said Gruber. “This vision will be accomplished by developing a seamless system of services and programs that best meets the needs of individuals and communities that rely on our department every day. By naming these individuals, we have the ability to design our programs, operations and staff to meet this objective, without any delays in services, by July 1, 2022.”

Gruber said that over the next two months, the steering committee and its workgroups will continue writing the comprehensive transition plan due to the governor and state lawmakers on Dec. 1, as outlined in the bill that created the new agency. Meetings and input continue with staff, partners, lawmakers, providers, advocates and those in services, to hear ideas for how to be most effective as one department, she said. Agencies are working with the University of Utah to form performance measures to determine the efficacy of streamlining services and improving the experience of those served by the new department.