Governor Beverly Perdue, who declared yesterday that she will not be seeking re-election in 2012, announced some major healthcare leadership changes, as well as some departmental consolidations earlier this week. The changes shuffle some key healthcare leaders into new roles and realigns DPH and the Office of Rural Health into a new division. First, Dr. Jeffrey Engel is stepping down as State Health Director. In addition, Al Delia is the new Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, moving from a senior advisor to the Governor to DHHS. Delia is replacing Lanier Cansler who resigned earlier this month but will work to help form the new consolidated division. Dr. Laura Gerald will become the new State Health Director. Dr. Gerald is a pediatrician who previously worked for CCNC, as well as with the former Health & Wellness Trust Fund. These personnel moves are coinciding with the creation of the new Division of Prevention, Access and Public Health Services. Finally, long-serving Senator William Purcell, a pediatrician and the General Assembly's only primary care physician member, has announced that he will not be seeking re-election.