CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia Health and Human Resources Secretary Martha Walker will leave her job to become acting director of the new Governor's Office of Health Enhancement and Lifestyle Planning (GOHELP), the governor's office announced Thursday.

Passed by the Legislature in April, the GOHELP office is intended to oversee state health-care reform and wellness initiatives.

"I am so appreciative that Martha has accepted the new acting director's position," Gov. Joe Manchin said in a statement Thursday. "She brings a wealth of knowledge to this commission, and will help bring all of the pieces together so that GOHELP starts out right and on a solid path."

The governor said Walker, 69, had been planning to step down as DHHR secretary, but agreed to serve as the first GOHELP director on an interim basis, starting Sept. 1.

"She's given us everything she has as secretary of DHHR, and we asked her to give us a little bit more as GOHELP director," he said.

Longtime health-care administrator Patsy Hardy of Parkersburg will replace Walker as DHHR secretary.

Hardy has more than 24 years of health-care management and operations experience, including serving as CEO of St. Joseph's Hospital in Parkersburg and CEO of Putnam General Hospital in Hurricane. She also was the chief operating officer for St. Francis Hospital in Charleston.

House Health and Human Resources Chairman Don Perdue, D-Wayne -- a leading advocate for the GOHELP program -- said Thursday he was encouraged by the announcement.

"Secretary Walker has done a yeoman's job," he said of her service of head of Health and Human Resources. "It's a very difficult job, overseeing a department that's extraordinarily complex."

While Walker's service as GOHELP director will be temporary, Perdue said her experience as DHHR secretary makes her an ideal choice to get the new office up and running.

"I believe the office will benefit from having her there in the interim period," he said. "She's getting it kick-started for the people who will follow."  

Walker has been DHHR secretary since Manchin took office in January 2005.

"I am ready for a new challenge, and this opportunity will allow me to continue the work of coordinating health-care reform on a state and federal level," Walker said in a statement.

Reach Phil Kabler at ph...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1220.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia Health and Human Resources Secretary Martha Walker will leave her job to become acting director of the new Governor's Office of Health Enhancement and Lifestyle Planning (GOHELP), the governor's office announced Thursday.

Passed by the Legislature in April, the GOHELP office is intended to oversee state health-care reform and wellness initiatives.

"I am so appreciative that Martha has accepted the new acting director's position," Gov. Joe Manchin said in a statement Thursday. "She brings a wealth of knowledge to this commission, and will help bring all of the pieces together so that GOHELP starts out right and on a solid path."

The governor said Walker, 69, had been planning to step down as DHHR secretary, but agreed to serve as the first GOHELP director on an interim basis, starting Sept. 1.

"She's given us everything she has as secretary of DHHR, and we asked her to give us a little bit more as GOHELP director," he said.

Longtime health-care administrator Patsy Hardy of Parkersburg will replace Walker as DHHR secretary.

Hardy has more than 24 years of health-care management and operations experience, including serving as CEO of St. Joseph's Hospital in Parkersburg and CEO of Putnam General Hospital in Hurricane. She also was the chief operating officer for St. Francis Hospital in Charleston.

House Health and Human Resources Chairman Don Perdue, D-Wayne -- a leading advocate for the GOHELP program -- said Thursday he was encouraged by the announcement.

"Secretary Walker has done a yeoman's job," he said of her service of head of Health and Human Resources. "It's a very difficult job, overseeing a department that's extraordinarily complex."

While Walker's service as GOHELP director will be temporary, Perdue said her experience as DHHR secretary makes her an ideal choice to get the new office up and running.

"I believe the office will benefit from having her there in the interim period," he said. "She's getting it kick-started for the people who will follow."  

Walker has been DHHR secretary since Manchin took office in January 2005.

"I am ready for a new challenge, and this opportunity will allow me to continue the work of coordinating health-care reform on a state and federal level," Walker said in a statement.

Reach Phil Kabler at ph...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1220.