MDHHS Director Gordon Resigns Post

MDHHS Director Gordon responding to questions at a press conference last week

New MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel

No details given; Elizabeth Hertel named Director

As Director of the Department of Health and Human Services Robert Gordon has been the spokesperson for the epidemic orders issued by MDHHS.

Today at the Governor’s press conference announcing, among other items, the return to indoor dining on February 1st and a continuation of the pause on high school contact sports he did not appear at the podium.

Mid-afternoon Gordon tweeted “Today, I am resigning from the Whitmer Administration.  It's been an honor to serve alongside wonderful colleagues.  I look forward to the next chapter.”
He offered no details as to the reasons for his departure.

To replace him Gretchen Whitmer appointed Elizabeth Hertel as Director.
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Hertel joined the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) in 2013 as the senior assistant for Policy and Planning, and in February 2014, was appointed director of Policy and Planning. Following the merger of the Departments of Community Health and Human Services into MDHHS in 2015, Hertel served as senior deputy director for Policy, Planning and Legislative Services. In October 2016, she left that position to serve as director of Michigan Advocacy for Trinity Health and returned to MDHHS and her current position in February 2019. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Grand Valley State University and an MBA at Michigan State University. 

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