-ATIN- - 07/23/08 - The federal Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt announced yesterday that SAMHSA Adminstrator Terry Cline would be stepping stepping down at the end of August, his interim replacement being Eric Broderick, currently SAMHSA deputy administrator.

"Terry's experiences as a caregiver, manager of State-level health systems and builder of strong collaborative relationships make him an excellent choice to help the U.S. government advise Iraq as it rebuilds its health care system," Leavitt said. "I appreciate Terry's commitment to improving health care globally, and welcome him to this important new role." The Secretary also thanked Capt Bruno Himmler of the HHS Indian Health Service, the outgoing Health Attaché, for his service."

Cline is slated to enter diplomatic service as the new Health and Human Services Health Attache at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.

Since December 2006, Dr. Cline has led HHS' SAMHSA, the $3.3 billion agency responsible for improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation's delivery systems to prevent substance abuse, treat addiction and provide mental health services. Prior to this appointment, he served as Oklahoma's Secretary of Health and Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. He was also a provider at a community mental health center, and served as an instructor in clinical psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

Newswire Staff

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