Danette Smith has been appointed the next commissioner of the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration.
Ms. Smith most recently spent nearly five years as chief executive officer of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, according to a Feb. 8 news release from Colorado Gov. Jared Polis' office. In this role, she created a task force focused on improving the state's behavioral health system, among other behavioral health initiatives.
The role was originally vacated following the April firing of Morgan Medlock, MD, the first to hold the position of commissioner. Michelle Barnes has served as interim head of the administration since and will return to her role as executive director of the Colorado Department of Human Services once Ms. Smith takes over March 18.