MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake is leaving the Evers Administration, Gov. Tony Evers announced Friday.

Timberlake joined the administration during the COVID-19 pandemic, when former DHS Secretary-designee Andrea Palm left to join the Biden Administration in 2021.

“Karen joined our administration at a critical time during the coronavirus pandemic, bringing with her a wealth of experience and expertise. We owe her our gratitude for returning to this role during an incredibly challenging time for our state, and there’s no question that she helped us save lives,” said Evers in a press release.

Timberlake was a critical part of the COVID vaccine rollout in the state, with more than 10.7 million doses of the vaccine administered.

“Thanks to Gov. Evers’ leadership and the creativity and dedicated efforts of our colleagues across the cabinet and throughout the agencies, Wisconsinites and communities are bouncing back from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the state’s future is full of potential waiting to be realized,” said Timberlake in a statement.

During her time in the role, Timberlake also lead the health agency through a national infant formula shortage and mpox outbreak.

She oversaw various initiatives, such as the WisCaregiver Careers Program, that made expansions in health care. She also worked on major projects such as investing in mental and behavioral health services and addressing the opioid epidemic and overdose deaths. 

She also worked to reduce disparities in health by investing in telehealth services that made health care more accessible. She said she prioritized investments that went to organizations working with historically underserved or hard-to-reach communities.

Prior to joining Gov. Evers, Timberlake worked as a partner for Michael Best Strategies, LLC, where she advised on public health, health care delivery and healthy community investments. At one point, she was the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute Director and an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

In addition to working under Gov. Evers, Timberlake also served as director of the Office of State Employment Relations and secretary of DHS under Gov. Jim Doyle.

“I want to thank Governor Evers for the opportunity to step back into this role. This has been an extraordinary time to be in public service,” said Timberlake in a press release.

She’ll officially leave her role in the Evers Administration on Jan. 2, 2023.

“Even beyond her willingness to serve, Karen is an exceptional person who I’m proud to know and have been proud to have as part of my cabinet,” said Gov. Evers in a press release. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to have served alongside her. I want to extend my sincerest thanks to Karen for her service to our state, and I wish her and her family well in their next chapter.”

The Evers Administration said a replacement will be announced in the coming weeks.