Health secretary resigns
The governor’s office announced yesterday that Health Secretary Calvin Johnson is stepping down from his position. His next move is back to Philadelphia. From WHYY’s health and science desk, Kerry Grens reports.
Transcript:
Calvin Johnson’s last day as health secretary is September 26th, after which he will take up a post as chief medical officer for Temple University Health System. Johnson spent several years teaching and practicing at Temple Hospital. Governor Ed Rendell’s spokesman Chuch Ardo says the Governor is pleased with Johnson’s accomplishments in pushing healthcare reform, addressing health disparities, and responding to public health crises.
Ardo: He has put in six years of service, or nearly six years of service and I think he was looking for other opportunities at this point in his life.
Johnson is known as a strong leader, says Temple Health System’s CEO Chip Marshall.
Marshall: I could not be prouder that the Temple Health System is bringing Doctor Johnson back to philadelphia to resume and assume an even greater leadership role and this is a part of Pennsylvania that desperately needs it.
Johnson begins at Temple in October; the Governor has not yet chosen a replacement. He has also had to fill other posts recently vacated — including the head of the Department of Environmental Services and the chair of the Board of Education.
WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.