Governor Kevin Stitt announced on Monday he has appointed Kevin Corbett as Secretary of Health and Mental Health and Elizabeth Pollard as Secretary of Science and Innovation. They are replacing Secretaries Jerome Loughridge and Dr. Kayse Shrum. They are returning to their career fields.
Loughridge and Shrum helped lead the state’s COVID-19 response.
Corbett is the Oklahoma Health Care Authority CEO. Pollard was appointed Deputy Secretary of Science and Innovation in January 2020. She is an executive chair with Applied Silver, a Silicon Valley company that deals with infection prevention and antibiotic stewardship.
“We are fortunate to have the ability to promote talented people like Secretary Kevin Corbett and Secretary Elizabeth Pollard to ensure a seamless transition,” said Stitt. “They both have made significant impacts on our state in just a few months, and I am excited to work with them as we continue our momentum toward becoming a Top Ten state.”
Loughridge is returning as president of TMG Service Company in Oklahoma City. Shrum is the president of Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa.
The Oklahoma Senate will need to confirm Corbett and Pollard during the next legislative session.
