Lynn Gallagher, JD, is the Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Health. In her role as Cabinet Secretary of the state’s largest agency, she manages the department’s $550 million budget and leads more than 3,000 employees in evidence-based, strategic health initiatives and health systems innovation. In addition to operating the state’s accredited, centralized public health system, the NMDOH operates five 24/7 facilities including the state’s mental hospital, one community program for persons with developmental disabilities, the developmental disabilities supports division, the division of health improvement and the medical cannabis program.

Under Secretary Gallagher’s leadership, the Department is focusing on health issues that have the greatest impact on New Mexico’s population health status, expanding community engagement and working on a sustainability plan that will help the agency be more efficient and effective as the future of public health services evolve.

Prior to her appointment in 2016, Secretary Gallagher served as Deputy Secretary at the Department of Health since 2013 and as General Counsel for the Aging and Long-Term Services Department.

She is a native of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, has lived and worked in New York and Florida providing state and federal compliance and contract management. She returned to New Mexico in 2009 where she entered private law practice prior to joining state government.

She has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and a Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.