In the wake of a financial scandal which revealed a $30 million slush fund, the Oklahoma State Department of Health has hired Gloria Hudson as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Hudson was most recently the Director of General Accounting for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.
The position was vacant since the February resignation of Michael Romero. On his way out, Romero claimed that now former general counsel Julie Ezell gave former interim Commissioner Preston Doerflinger information about his testimony as investigators were looking into the Department’s financial mismanagement.
“This hire is another step forward in reorganizing the financial operation of OSDH,” said Interim Commissioner Tom Bates. “Gloria’s expertise in dealing with complex financial issues in state government is a welcome addition to our staff. It will allow Chief Operating Officer Kim Bailey to concentrate on finding efficiencies in our day to day operation. Kim has done an outstanding job wearing two hats during the period without a CFO and I commend her for the steps that have already been put in place.”
