Deputy Secretary of Public Health Fran Phillips has retired and Assistant Secretary of Public Health and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jinlene Chan will assume her role.

Governor Hogan presented Phillips with a citation in honor of her services and announced Dr. Chan as her replacement at a press conference on Wednesday.

The Baltimore Sun reports:

Since 2018, Phillips had been serving as deputy state health secretary for public health, her second time as a high-ranking state health employee. She also had a long career in Anne Arundel County, serving twice as that county’s health officer and once as its interim fire chief.

The article notes that in stepping into her new role,  Dr. Chan has urged Marylanders not to get complacent as the state and nation continue to grapple with coronavirus:

Moving forward, Chan said state officials will keep “a really close eye” on other states that are hotspots for the virus. She said Maryland residents must abide by “small inconveniences” such as wearing masks, washing hands, practicing social distancing and avoiding gatherings to keep the spread of the virus manageable in Maryland.

For more information:

Maryland’s public health chief Fran Phillips retires amid pandemic (The Baltimore Sun)