The Louisiana Department of Health is announcing Drew Maranto as the interim secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, replacing Michael Harrington, who has retired. Gov. Jeff Landry intends to name a permanent LDH secretary in the next few weeks.
Maranto currently serves as LDH's undersecretary. He joined the Department in January 2024 as chief of staff and was promoted to undersecretary in June 2024.
Harrington joined the Department in January 2024 as undersecretary and was promoted to secretary in June 2024. As part of the overall plan, Harrington intended to work for the Department on a temporary basis and initially indicated he wanted to retire this year. The governor selected Harrington for his numerous years of experience as a hospital executive. He has been an important part of the executive management team and has provided helpful guidance on numerous projects and several key initiatives.
“This has been in the works for some time, as Michael has made it clear from the beginning that he intended to step down in the spring,” said Gov. Landry. “He joined during a busy period, and we deeply appreciate his service and willingness to come to Louisiana and work in one of the largest and most challenging departments. In the meantime, Drew Maranto will be interim secretary until a permanent replacement is announced.”
“Michael played an important role on the executive management team and brought vast experience to this department. He helped establish new initiatives and his innovative ideas will leave a lasting impression,” said Louisiana Surgeon General Dr. Ralph Abraham. “It was a pleasure to serve with him and I appreciate his hard work.”
“LDH remains focused on implementing the Governor’s charge to improve health outcomes and move people from dependence to independence. I look forward to leading this great team as we serve the residents of Louisiana,” Interim Secretary Maranto said.