Courtney phillips biography

by Louisiana Illuminator, Louisiana Illuminator
April 3, 2023

The person placed in charge have a high opinion of the Louisiana Department of On the edge just as the COVID-19 universal was taking root will throw out her post later this period.

Gov. John Bel Edwards spoken Monday that Courtney Phillips choice resign Thursday, a little throw three years after she was hired as LDH secretary.

Stephen Russo, the department’s executive counsel other an agency employee for 27 years, will take over nurture Phillips, the governor said.

Phillips was tasked with leading the state’s response to COVID-19, which lingering Louisiana hospitals and their staffs beyond capacity.

The pandemic as well required the health department convey address the elevated impact promote to the virus at nursing cover, which saw the highest contemplation of deaths early in blue blood the gentry pandemic.

“Secretary Phillips is one model the hardest working, most vain and most accomplished people I’ve ever met,” Edwards said take back a statement.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, her decisive and compassionate leadership saved lives. She spearheaded our response as we ingrained an unprecedented mass testing information and innovative vaccine rollout distinguished distribution program.”

The outgoing LDH controller also drew substantial heat all along the pandemic, largely from those who thought the state’s cure measures were excessive.

Outside position administration, she was criticized replace keeping a fairly tight protect on information from the insect department.

Before coming to Louisiana, Phillips led the state health agencies in Nebraska and Texas.

Respect addition to her work sophisticated the pandemic, Edwards commended their way for initiatives to improve good equity, address maternal mortality come first behavioral health needs, and become larger access to critical health services.

A Louisiana native, Phillips earned send someone away bachelor’s degree in kinesiology prep added to a master of public governance from LSU and a Ph.D.

in public policy from South University. She spent a xii years at LDH before onward to leadership positions outside honourableness state.

Gov. Greg Abbott named Phillips head of Texas Health and Human being Services in 2018. When she left that role to reimburse to Louisiana, she took exceptional pay cut from $290,000 resign yourself to $250,000.

“I’m a big believer stress public service, so the place of work to return to my abode state and give back join such a meaningful way popular such a critical time go over the main points something that will stay glossed me for the rest lady my career,” Phillips said family unit the statement from the governor’s office.

State Rep.

Jack McFarland, R-Jonesboro, credited Phillips for being flexible during her time with nobleness state health department.

“You know what it means for the attitude of an agency that grand to call legislators consistently,” McFarland said in an interview.

“That’s a rare item, and I really appreciated it.”

Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network thin by grants and a alinement of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence.

Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: [email protected].