Most health agency heads replaced before Obama

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Most of the heads of the U.S. agencies under the Health and Human Services Department will be replaced by their deputies by January 20, when Barack Obama is sworn in as president, employees learned on Friday.

An e-mail issued on Friday evening listed all of the agency heads who will go, ranging from the director of the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention to the head of the Food and Drug Administration.

Incoming presidents traditionally name the heads of agencies, especially with a change of party. Obama, a Democrat, is replacing Republican George W. Bush.

Obama has named Tom Daschle, a former senator, to be head of the Health and Human Services Department. Daschle has said he will act quickly to name permanent new heads of agencies such as the FDA.

Here is a list of some of the affected agencies:

FDA - Frank Torti, now principal deputy commissioner and chief scientist, will replace Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach.

CDC - William Gimson, now chief operating officer, will replace Dr. Julie Gerberding, who resigned this week.

Rear Adm. Steven Galson is already the acting U.S. surgeon-general.

Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services - Charlene Frizzera, now chief operating officer, will replace acting director Kerry Weems.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality - Dr. Carolyn Clancy will stay on as director.

Administration for Children and Families - Curtis Coy, now deputy assistant secretary for administration, will replace Daniel Schneider.

National Institutes of Health - Raynard Kington is already acting director after Dr. Elias Zerhouni resigned last year.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration - Eric Broderick will stay on as acting administrator.