State health secretary abruptly resigns, as governor's Cabinet turnover continues

SANTA FE — The top state health official in Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s administration abruptly resigned Wednesday, marking the latest exit from a Cabinet carousel at the state Capitol.

State Health Secretary Patrick Allen, who was appointed by the governor in December 2022, stepped down after less than two years on the job in New Mexico.

The Governor’s Office announced Allen’s departure but did not provide a reason for his resignation.

Lujan Grisham described Allen as a dedicated public servant and said she was grateful for his contributions as state Department of Health secretary.

“I wish him well in his next endeavor,” the governor said in a statement.

The Governor’s Office also said Gina DeBlassie, the governor’s health policy adviser, would serve as interim secretary of the Department of Health.

Robert Nott, a spokesman for the agency, said he was surprised by Allen’s resignation. He also said he did not know what prompted Allen to step down.

Before coming to New Mexico, Allen had served as Oregon’s Health Care Authority director. He submitted his resignation from that job in 2022 after gubernatorial candidates suggested they would replace him.

Allen, who did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday, told the Journal last year the New Mexico job offer came about due to a mix of political and personal connections. He said he ultimately settled on the position after weighing other opportunities.

As New Mexico’s health secretary, Allen helped oversee a campaign that used billboards and newspaper ads to try to lure Texas doctors and nurses to the Land of Enchantment.

He was also at the helm of the agency as abuse allegations rocked a state waiver program that provides support services to individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Wellness checks of all program participants were conducted in response to the abuse claims, and an outside investigation was also launched.

Meanwhile, Allen’s departure makes him the third Cabinet secretary in Lujan Grisham’s administration to step down in the last three months.

Former Aging and Long-Term Services Secretary Jen Paul Schroer stepped down from her job in September, just weeks after Public Education Secretary Arsenio Romero’s departure.

The resignation of Allen also comes just two months before the start of a 60-day legislative session in which health care issues are expected to be a prominent subject.

The state Department of Health oversees New Mexico’s medical cannabis program, the state’s immunization program and disease response efforts.

The agency is also in charge of treatment and long-term care facilities, including the New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute in Las Vegas and the State Veterans’ Home in Truth or Consequences.