Governor Stitt named Dr. Kayse Shurm as his Secretary of Science and Innovation and Jerome Loughridge as Secretary of Health and Mental Health. Both will need to be confirmed by the Oklahoma Senate.
Shrum is the president of Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences and has helped to expand the medical school’s academic programs to meet healthcare workforce needs. She also worked with Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker to create the nation’s first tribally affiliated medical school.
Loughridge is the president of Great Plains Oilfield Rental and has worked as a White House Fellow and as a special assistant in the Office of the Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Loughridge also works to spread humanitarian and healthcare aid to Central America and East Africa.
“Jerome Loughridge and Dr. Kayse Shrum are going to make a dynamic team on the cabinet focusing on government reform and the intersection of science, health and innovation to make Oklahoma Top Ten,” said Stitt. “As Secretary of Health, Jerome will bring his wealth of experience and success in the private sector as well as public policy to help us realign our agencies and make government customer-centered in the delivery of services surrounding health and mental health. Dr. Shrum will bring a strong network and wealth of knowledge around the areas of medicine, science, and the intersection of innovation to propel Oklahoma’s economy forward.”
