County board of health seeks community health director

BY BRYCE KELLY

Mt. Pleasant News

Changes are coming for the Henry County Board of Health as they begin the search for a new leader.

During the board?s regular monthly meeting on Tuesday afternoon at Henry County Health Center (HCHC), Travis Johnson, Community Health Director for Henry County, officially announced his resignation to the Henry County Board of Health, and an action plan was drawn up to begin the search for his replacement.

?I know that I have talked to you all at this point and personally thanked you for all your work on this board. But I did want to announce that I have been given a great opportunity that I just couldn?t pass up,? Johnson said, addressing the board. ??So with that, there will be a fairly immediate opening for my position.?

Johnson has accepted a position at Mahaska Health Partnership in Oskaloosa. He will begin his new position at the end of October, and will complete his last day at Henry County Health Center on Oct. 21.

Johnson?s upcoming departure will mean the board will have some big shoes to fill. In addition to his duties on the board of health, Johnson?s current position in Henry County fulfills the duties of the local public health agency director, as well as the executive director of the Healthy Henry County Communities board.

Moving to begin the search process on Tuesday, the board enlisted the help and advice of Michelle Rosell, HCHC?s Chief Operating Officer, to help coordinate the job search efforts. As it is currently set up, the Henry County Board of Health operates in a two-year partnership with HCHC and the Henry County Board of Supervisors.

Due to the board?s partnership with HCHC and the county supervisors, the board stressed to Rosell that they wanted to be active participants in the search for Johnson?s replacement.

?The person we hire would be an HCHC employee, but my intention is to involve the board of health in the interview process as well as someone from the executive committee of Healthy Henry County Communities,? explained Rossell.

Already, Rosell has advertised locally for the position and has received two résumés as of Tuesday afternoon. And while the quick turnout for the position is a good sign, several board members asked that a wider net be cast.

?I think we need widen our search beyond just Henry and surrounding counties,? said board member, Dr. Bob Welander. ?I think we need to go to the Iowa Department of Public Health and the College of Public Health at the university. I don?t think we can rely on just a few counties. We want to be able to choose from as many qualified candidates as possible because this is a big position to fill.?

With that directive in mind, Rosell will be reaching out to the Iowa Department of Public Health, the College of Public Health at the University of Iowa as well as the Iowa Public Health Association to post the job opening.

Additionally, Rosell said she would be starting to organize job interview schedules for candidates this week.

In the event that a candidate is not chosen and hired before Johnson leaves on Oct. 21, an interim director of public health will be appointed. According to Rosell, she currently possess all the certifications and requirements to be an acting interim director should that be needed for a time.

For more on Tuesday?s Henry County Board of Health meeting, read tomorrow?s (Thursday) edition of the Mt. Pleasant News.