Health Department announces Hudson as new top finance officer

For the first time in nearly six months, the Oklahoma State Department of Health has a top official dedicated solely to its finances.

The department announced Wednesday that it had hired Gloria Hudson as chief financial officer. Hudson previously worked as director of general accounting at the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, which oversees the state's Medicaid program.

The previous CFO, Mike Romero, resigned Jan. 31, citing concerns with the direction of the department's recovery under then-Interim Commissioner Preston Doerflinger. Doerflinger later resigned after press reports about an old domestic incident.

Chief Operating Officer Kim Bailey had overseen the department's finances while the CFO position was vacant, Interim Commissioner Tom Bates said. Hiring Hudson will allow Bailey to focus on finding ways for the department to work more efficiently, he said.

“This hire is another step forward in reorganizing the financial operation of OSDH,” Bates said in a news release. “Gloria’s expertise in dealing with complex financial issues in state government is a welcome addition to our staff.”

Hudson has worked at the health care authority since 2000, and has more than 30 years of experience in state government accounting and auditing, according to a news release from the Health Department.

The department also announced it has hired Keith Reed for the newly created position of deputy commissioner for community health services. Reed will work with the 68 county health departments and their regional directors. He previously was regional director over Cleveland, Grady, Garvin, McClain and Murray counties.