| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | November 17, 1907 |
| Preceding agency |
|
| Headquarters | 1000 NE 10th Street Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Employees | 1,552 (FY19) |
| Annual budget | $393 million (FY19) |
| Minister responsible | |
| Agency executive |
|
| Website | ok.gov/health |
The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is a department of the government of Oklahoma under the supervision of the Oklahoma Secretary of Health. The department is responsible for protecting the health of all Oklahomans and providing other essential human services. The OSDH serves as the primary public health protection agency in the state.
The department is led the State Commissioner of Health, who is appointed by the governor of Oklahoma with the approval of the Oklahoma Senate to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Commissioner is the executive officer of the department and is the lead public health authority in the state. To assist the Commissioner is the State Board of Health, composed of nine members appointed by the governor of Oklahoma with the approval of the Oklahoma Senate, which serves as advisory board to the Commissioner.[1]
The current Commissioner of Health is Colonel Lance Frye, M.d., who was appointed by the Governor Kevin Stitt in May 2020.
The former Commissioner of Health was Gary Cox, J.D., who was appointed by Governor Kevin Stitt in September 2019.[2]
The Department was created in 1963 during the term of Governor Henry Bellmon.
Leadership[edit]
The Department is led by the Secretary of Health and the Commissioner of Health. Under Governor of Oklahoma Kevin Stitt, Jerome Loughridge serves as Cabinet Secretary and Gary Cox serves as Commissioner of Health.
State Board of Health[edit]
The State Board of Health is the governing body of the Health Department. The Board is composed of nine members appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma with the approval of the Oklahoma Senate. Each Board member serves a nine-year term. Eight of the nine members represent specific county regions of the state and one member is appointed to represent the state at large.
As of September 2019, the Board is composed of the following members:[3]
| Name | Region | Board position |
|---|---|---|
| Timothy E. Starkey, MBA | Cimarron, Texas, Beaver, Harper, Woodward, Woods, Major, Alfalfa, Grant, Garfield, Kay and Noble | President |
| Edward A. Legako, M.D. | Blaine, Kingfisher, Canadian, Caddo, Grady, Comanche, Jefferson, Stephens and Cotton | Vice President |
| Becky Payton | At-large | Secretary |
| Jenny Alexopulos, D.O. | Ottawa, Delaware, Craig, Mayes, Nowata, Rogers, Washington, Tulsa, Pawnee, and Osage | |
| Terry R. Gerard II, D.O. | LeFlore, Latimer, Pittsburg, Atoka, Pushmataha, McCurtain, Choctaw, Bryan, Marshall, Carter, and Love | |
| Charles W. Grim, D.D.S., M.H.S.A | Adair, Sequoyah, Cherokee, Wagoner, Muskogee, Haskell, McIntosh, and Okmulgee | |
| R. Murali Krishna, M.D. | Logan, Oklahoma, Cleveland, McClain, Garvin, Murray and Payne | |
| Ronald D. Osterhout, M.S. | Ellis, Dewey, Custer, Roger Mills, Beckham, Washita, Kiowa, Greer, Jackson, Harmon, and Tillman | |
| Charles E. Skillings | Creek, LIncoln, Okfuskee, Seminole, Pottawatomie, Pontotoc, Hughes, Johnston and Coal |
Organization[edit]
As of September 2019, the organization of the Department is as follows:
- Oklahoma Secretary of Health
- Commissioner
- State Board of Health
- Office of Accountability Systems
- Chief Operating Officer
- Human Resources
- Informatics
- Vital Records
- Building Management, Safety, and Security
- Deputy Commissioner - Prevention and Preparedness Services / State Epidemiologist
- Emergency Preparedness and Response Service
- Public Health Laboratory
- Sexual Health and Harm Reducation Service
- Acute Disease Service
- Injury Prevention Service
- Immunization Service
- Deputy Commissioner - Protective Health Services
- Consumer Health Service
- Long Term Care Service
- Medical Facilities Service
- Health Resource Development Service
- Deputy Commissioner - Family Health Services
- Maternal and Child Health Service
- Dental Health Service
- Screening and Special Service
- Family Support and Prevention Service
- WIC Service
- SoonerStart
- Deputy Commissioner - Community Health Services
- County Health Departments
- Community Evaluation and Records Support
- Nursing Service
- Chief Financial Officer
- Budget
- Procurement
- Revenue
- Grants
- Accounts Payable and Payroll
- Chief Data, Public Policy, and Health Promotion Officer
- Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
- Health Policy, Planning, and Partnerships
- Center for Health Statistics
- Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority
- Office of the Commissioner
- Internal Audit
- Grant Administration and Federal Compliance
- Chief Medical Officer
- Chief Legal Counsel
- Chief of Staff
- Office of Communication
- Legislative Affairs
Management and Finance[edit]
Staffing[edit]
The Health Department, with an annual budget of well over $300 million, is one of the largest employers of the State. For fiscal year 2014, the Department was authorized 2,148 full-time employees.
| Division | Number of Employees |
|---|---|
| Public Health Infrastructure | 163 |
| Protective Health Services | 270 |
| Prevention and Preparedness | 211 |
| Health Improvement Services | 130 |
| Community and Family Health | 1374 |
| Total | 2,148 |
Budget[edit]
The divisions of the Department operation with the following operating budgets for Fiscal Year 2019:[4]
| Program | Funding (in millions) |
|---|---|
| Public Health Infrastructure | $28.8 |
| Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority | $10.2 |
| Prevention and Preparedness | $61.6 |
| Protective Health Services | $62.6 |
| Community and Family Health Services | $179.3 |
| Health Improvement | $21.5 |
| Data Processing and Public Policy | $32.9 |
| Total | $392.5 |
Supporting Agencies[edit]
- Alarm Industry Committee
- State Barber Advisory Board
- Breast Cancer Prevention and Treatment Advisory Committee
- Office of Child Abuse Prevention
- Interagency Child Abuse Prevention Task Force
- Child Abuse Training & Coordination Council
- Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Advisory Council
- Licensed Professional Counselors Advisory Board
- Dental Health Service
- Driver’s License Medical Advisory Committee
- Emergency Response Systems Development Advisory Council
- Health Care Information Advisory Committee
- Hearing Aid Advisory Council
- Home Health Advisory Board
- Hospice Advisory Council
- Long-Term Care Facility Advisory Board
- Licensed Marital & Family Therapists Advisory Board
- Medical Audit Committee
- Organ Donor Education & Awareness Program Advisory Council
- Interagency Council on Osteoporosis
- Radiation Advisory Committee
- Residents and Family State Council
- Sanitarian & Environmental Specialist Registration Advisory Council
- Vision Screening Standards Advisory Committee
References[edit]
- ^ "Board of Health - Oklahoma State Department of Health". Oklahoma State Department of Health. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
- ^ "Gov. Stitt Announces Gary Cox as Commissioner of Oklahoma State Department of Health". Office of the Governor. September 12, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
- ^ "Board Members - Oklahoma State Department of Health". Oklahoma State Department of Health. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
- ^ "FY 2020 State Budget, Oklahoma Office of State Finance" (PDF). Retrieved October 2, 2019.
External links[edit]
- Official website
