Arizona Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ Leaving Position

PHOENIX, AZ — One of the faces of Arizona's COVID-19 response is leaving her role to take a medical role with a national insurance carrier.

Dr. Cara Christ, who has served as the director of the Arizona Department of Health Services since 2015, will leave her role on Aug. 27 to take a position as chief medical officer for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.

Christ, who is the longest-serving director in department history, previously was the chief medical officer, licensing director and deputy director of public health for AZDHS. She joined the department in 2008.

She became known in the state for her role in Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey's frequent press conferences on the state's COVID-19 response last summer, among other activities.

Christ released the following statement on her decision to leave the department after 13 years:

“Before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, my number one priority has been protecting the health of Arizonans all across our state,” Christ's statement reads. “When the pandemic hit, the entire state came together to contain the spread and protect one another — and I’m grateful to everyone who worked with our team at the Arizona Department of Health Services to protect fellow Arizonans. It has been an honor to lead ADHS and work to keep Arizonans of all ages, backgrounds and unique needs healthy and safe. I’m so proud to have been a part of this administration, and I thank Governor Ducey for entrusting me with responsibility for public health in Arizona and for working with me closely in the state’s response to COVID-19.”

Ducey released a statement on Christ's decision, commending the director for her years of service to the agency:

“When Cara Christ became a doctor, she did it to help others and save lives. That’s exactly what she’s done,” said Governor Ducey. “She dedicated countless hours to protecting millions of Arizonans from the COVID-19 pandemic — and she’s done it with grace, stability and confidence. She implemented effective statewide testing and internationally-recognized mass vaccination sites, established the national model Arizona SurgeLine, worked hard to increase vaccinations for communities in need, and so much more. “By mid-August, Dr. Christ will be the longest-serving ADHS director. And she was a dedicated leader long before the pandemic hit — developing the Arizona Opioid Action Plan and the Zika Action Plan, expanding access to health care institutions and child care facilities, and always taking creative approaches to better protecting Arizonans. Through any and every challenge, Dr. Christ put the health and safety of Arizonans first. I am deeply grateful for her years of leadership and service to our state, and I wish her continued success at her new opportunity with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.”