November 28, 2016

Department Announces New Deputy Secretary for Administration

Contact:
Communications Office
NewsMedia@flhealth.gov
(850) 245-4111

Tallahassee, Fla.—The Florida Department of Health has announced Michele Tallent as Deputy Secretary for Administrative Services. She is assuming the role after having served as acting Deputy Secretary since January. As Deputy Secretary, she will oversee the Divisions of Administration, Disability Determinations and Medical Quality Assurance. The Office of Information Technology will also be under her leadership.

“I am pleased that Michele has accepted the position of Deputy Secretary for Administration,” said State Surgeon General and Secretary Dr. Celeste Philip. “Her years of service and extensive experience with finance and management will help ensure the department’s capacity to provide essential public health services.”

Tallent served as director for the department’s Office of Budget and Revenue Management from March 2014 until becoming acting Deputy Secretary for Administration in January 2016. Prior to her arrival at the department she was the budget chief for the Health and Human Services (HHS) unit with the Governor's Office of Policy and Budget, where she was responsible for developing the Governor’s recommended budget for the HHS unit, briefing senior staff, reviewing proposed legislation for fiscal impacts, communicating with House and Senate staff, and reviewing contracts. Tallent has also served as the budget director for the Agency for Health Care Administration and the chief of finance and accounting for the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service.

Tallent will oversee many of the department’s key support functions. In addition to the department’s budget and revenue management; finance and accounting; personnel and human resource management; information technology; and general services, she will oversee the state’s regulation of health care practitioners and the determination of Floridians’ medical eligibility for disability benefits.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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