(The Center Square) Dr. Jimmy Guidry is retiring from the Louisiana Department of Health, LDH reported Monday.
Guidry, who is state health officer and medical director for LDH, will retire at the end of the year. During his 30 years with the department, Guidry also served as the assistant secretary for the Office of Public Health and the Acadiana Region’s medical director. His 24 years as state health officer is the longest tenure in that role in Louisiana history, the department says.
Assistant State Health Officer and Region One Medical Director Dr. Joseph Kanter, who also is currently serving as interim secretary for the Office of Public Health, will serve as the next state health officer and LDH medical officer. He will continue as interim OPH assistant secretary while LDH recruits a permanent replacement.
David Jacobs, Staff Reporter for The Center Square, is a Baton Rouge-based award-winning journalist who has written about government, politics, business and culture in Louisiana for almost 15 years. He joined The Center Square in 2018.