Changes

In December 2023, Louisiana Governor-elect [[Jeff Landry]] announced the appointment of Dr. Abraham as the new secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. Abraham, who supported Landry for governor, said that he and Landry want to make Louisiana’s health top tier and raise it from the bottom.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/gov-elect-jeff-landry-announces-major-cabinet-appointments-one-from-nela/ar-AA1lOzeQ?ocid=msedgntp&pc=DCTS&cvid=b72613576e4f4abcbe5361a2326eaab5&ei=13|title=Gov-elect Jeff Landry announces major cabinet appointments, one from NELA|publisher=msn.com|accessdate=December 20, 2023}}</ref> In June 2024, Governor Landry appointed Abraham to the newly-created position of state surgeon general, formerly the chief medical officer, and promoted current undersecretary Michael Harrington to succeed Abraham in leading the Department of Health and Hospitals<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/2024/06/25/louisiana-has-created-a-new-position-of-surgeon-general-and-jeff-landry-appoints-ralph-abraham/74202149007/|title=Louisiana has a surgeon general; here's who Governor Jeff Landry appointed to the new job|publisher=''[[Alexandria Town Talk]]''|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|date=June 25, 2024|accessdate=June 26, 2024}}</ref>

In December 2023, Louisiana Governor-elect [[Jeff Landry]] announced the appointment of Dr. Abraham as the new secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. Abraham, who supported Landry for governor, said that he and Landry want to make Louisiana’s health top tier and raise it from the bottom.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/gov-elect-jeff-landry-announces-major-cabinet-appointments-one-from-nela/ar-AA1lOzeQ?ocid=msedgntp&pc=DCTS&cvid=b72613576e4f4abcbe5361a2326eaab5&ei=13|title=Gov-elect Jeff Landry announces major cabinet appointments, one from NELA|publisher=msn.com|accessdate=December 20, 2023}}</ref> In June 2024, Governor Landry appointed Abraham to the newly-created position of state surgeon general, formerly the chief medical officer, and promoted current undersecretary Michael Harrington to succeed Abraham in leading the Department of Health and Hospitals<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/2024/06/25/louisiana-has-created-a-new-position-of-surgeon-general-and-jeff-landry-appoints-ralph-abraham/74202149007/|title=Louisiana has a surgeon general; here's who Governor Jeff Landry appointed to the new job|publisher=''[[Alexandria Town Talk]]''|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|date=June 25, 2024|accessdate=June 26, 2024}}</ref>

==Background==

In November 2025, Abraham was named principal deputy director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the No. 2 position in the agency.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://justthenews.com/government/federal-agencies/louisiana-surgeon-general-who-halted-states-mass-vaccination-campaign|title=Louisiana surgeon general who halted state's mass vaccination campaign appointed No 2 at CDC|publisher=John Solomon, justthenews.com|accessdate=November 27, 2025}}</ref>

 

=Background==

Of Arab descent, Abraham is the son of the former Marlene Posey (1932–2015), a retired [[educator]], and Ralph Abraham, Sr. (1933–1980).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/local/2015/07/29/congressman-abrahams-mother-dies/30830519/|title=Congressman Abraham's mother, 83, dies |author=Greg Hilburn|publisher=''[[Monroe News Star]]'' |date=July 29, 2015 |accessdate=July 30, 2015}}</ref>  He is a graduate of [[Louisiana State University]] and its schools of both medicine and veterinary medicine, both in Baton Rouge. Abraham served in the [[United States Coast Guard]] Auxiliary and the Mississippi National Guard. He and his wife, Dianne, have three children.

Of Arab descent, Abraham is the son of the former Marlene Posey (1932–2015), a retired [[educator]], and Ralph Abraham, Sr. (1933–1980).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/local/2015/07/29/congressman-abrahams-mother-dies/30830519/|title=Congressman Abraham's mother, 83, dies |author=Greg Hilburn|publisher=''[[Monroe News Star]]'' |date=July 29, 2015 |accessdate=July 30, 2015}}</ref>  He is a graduate of [[Louisiana State University]] and its schools of both medicine and veterinary medicine, both in Baton Rouge. Abraham served in the [[United States Coast Guard]] Auxiliary and the Mississippi National Guard. He and his wife, Dianne, have three children.