CHFS Secretary Eric Friedlander announces retirement; Public Health Commissioner Steven Stack to assume role

By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Friedlander is retiring on Aug. 1 after 40 years in public service, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Thursday, April 3, at his weekly press conference.

Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, will assume the role of CHFS secretary upon Friedlander’s retirement.

“It has been an honor to serve,” Friedlander said at the press conference.

Friedlander thanked Beshear, noting how hard his job would have been “if we didn’t have a governor that actually believed in science.”

He also thanked the CHFS employees, noting the challenges that government employees are facing at the federal level.

“It has been an honor to serve you,” he said. “Public service is a calling. Public service means that the people that work for all of government … we work to lift people up. We work to lift individuals and communities, when they face challenges, we work to lift them up. Partners, cabinet employees, we always try to be the light when folks come across challenges.”

Stack said following the pandemic and his efforts to improve the health of Kentuckians, this new role feels like a “third act,” noting all of the challenges coming from the federal government.

“Public health and health and family services is essential to ensuring that we have healthier people and healthier communities,” he said. “If we fail to invest in these services and supports to ensure that all of us have the opportunity to thrive, we will all be worse off for it.”

Beshear said it would be a collaborative process between his office and Stack to find his replacement as commissioner for public health.