Gov. Susana Martinez has tapped Retta Ward to lead the state health department. Ward has been serving as secretary of the state Aging and Long-Term Services Department since February 2011. Before that, she managed the arthritis program for the Arizona Department of Health Services and worked as a health educator for Albuquerque Public Schools.
Martinez says Ward has a passion for public service and an understanding of our state's public health needs.
The governor appointed Gino Rinaldi to take Ward's place as secretary of Aging and Long-term Services. He has been the agency's deputy secretary since October 2011.
Rinaldi has also worked as a senior services administrator for Sandoval County and a manager at St. Joseph's Healthcare.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.