By: ND Monitor
The leader of the Dakota Medical Foundation will take a one-year leave from that position to head up the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services.
Gov. Kelly Armstrong on Friday announced that Pat Traynor will serve as the interim leader for Health and Human Services beginning June 2.
Health and Human Services is North Dakota’s largest government agency. It has a two-year budget of $5.7 billion and nearly 2,500 authorized full-time employees. The HHS commissioner is a member of the governor’s Cabinet.
“Pat Traynor is uniquely qualified to lead Health and Human Services in its mission to make North Dakota the healthiest state in the nation and promote physical, behavioral and economic health and well-being,” Armstrong said in a news release. “His track record of making organizations more efficient and effective will serve North Dakota citizens well as we continue to see high demand for the wide range of services provided by HHS.”
Traynor became president of the Dakota Medical Foundation in 2000. He previously served as executive director and CEO of the North Dakota Workers Compensation Bureau, now Workforce Safety and Insurance, from 1994 to 2000.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to return to state government and continue serving the citizens of the state I love,” Traynor said in the release.
Dirk Wilke has been the HHS interim commissioner since January. Wilke will continue in his position as executive director for the public health division.
Wayne Salter, the HHS commissioner under former Gov. Doug Burgum, and State Health Officer Dr. Nizar Wehbi announced in November that they would not be continuing their roles.
