Leah Romero, Source New Mexico

This article was originally published by Source New Mexico.

New Mexico Department of Health Secretary Patrick Allen will step down from his position Wednesday after leading the department for just shy of two years, according to the governor’s office.

A reason for Allen’s departure was not given in the news release provided by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office. The governor appointed Allen to the position in December 2022.

Allen could not be reached for comment.

Allen succeeded David Scrase, who stepped in as acting secretary when Kathy Kunkel retired in 2020. 

Robert Nott, DOH director of communications, said he doesn’t “know the reason for his resignation,” but was “surprised” by the announcement from the governor’s office. 

Lujan Grisham’s health policy advisor, Gina DeBlassie, will take over as interim cabinet secretary, according to the news release. DeBlassie has worked as Lujan Grisham’s health policy advisor for two-and-a-half years. 

According to her LinkedIn account, DeBlassie previously worked as chief operating officer for InnovAge, a health care delivery company offering PACE or Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly in Colorado, California, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Virginia. She left in January 2022, after nearly 12 years with the company.

InnovAge is currently a defendant in a federal class action civil lawsuit in which the company and several former executives are accused of securities fraud. The lawsuit was filed in October 2021 and is pending in the Colorado District Court.

DeBlassie earned a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Phoenix.

This is the third change in Lujan Grisham’s cabinet leadership in as many months – the Public Education and Aging and Long-Term Services departments received new leadership in September.

Leah Romero is a Las Cruces-based reporter placed with Source New Mexico through the New Mexico Local News Fellowship.