HELENA, Mont. — Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Director Charlie Brereton will leave his position on Oct. 30 to pursue a private-sector opportunity, Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Tuesday.
Gov. Gianforte named Dr. Doug Harrington, the agency’s state medical officer since 2023, as Brereton’s successor.
According to a press release, Brereton has led DPHHS since 2022. During his tenure, the agency oversaw a $300 million behavioral health initiative, expanded health care capacity and secured $233 million through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, with Montana set to receive up to $1.2 billion over five years.
“It has been a great honor to serve Montanans as director of DPHHS,” Brereton said.
The press release states that Harrington, a Montana native with more than 40 years of medical experience, said he looks forward to building on the department’s work to improve the health and well-being of Montanans.
