The secretary served as the chief advisor to the governor on public health issues and needs.

The position was established, along with the Oklahoma governor's Cabinet, by the Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986.

The secretary also provides the overarching management structure for the state's public health services in order to deliver improved public services while eliminating redundancies and reducing support costs in order to more effectively and efficiently run the agencies in a unified manner.

[1] In previous administrations, the position is consolidated with the Oklahoma Secretary of Human Services into the position of Oklahoma Secretary of Health and Human Services, as was the case under governors Frank Keating and Mary Fallin.

The secretary, unless filling an additional role which carries a greater salary, is entitled to annual pay of $85,000.