Nearly a dozen state and local health leaders, including a pair in Orange and San Bernardino counties, have retired or resigned since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic under the crushing responsibility of serving as the often vilified public face in the fight against the virus.
The departures in California mirror a nationwide trend in which dozens of top health officers have left formerly low-key positions after they were thrust into the white-hot, polarizing spotlight of the coronavirus pandemic. Although some of the officials simply retired, others became casualties of burnout, death threats, social media ugliness and lack of political support.
“There are different motivations in each case, and some may even have been planned retirements,” Kat DeBurgh, executive director of the Health Officers Association of California, said of the officials in California. “But I can say that burnout has been a factor in most, if not all, of the resignations.”
The latest high-profile departure occurred Sunday, Aug. 9, when Dr. Sonia Angel, director and state public health officer at the California Department of Public Health, abruptly resigned in the wake of a data glitch that caused a delay in reporting hundreds of thousands of virus test results — information used to make decisions about reopening businesses and schools.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, during a news conference Monday, declined to say whether he asked Angell, who often appeared at his side during daily COVID-19 briefings, to resign, but seemed to indicate her departure was tied to the data flaw.
“We are all accountable in our respective roles for what happens underneath us,” he said.
Southern California departures
Elsewhere in Southern California, Orange County Public Health Services Director David Souleles retired in May after 16 years of service with the county.
He was followed the next month by Orange County’s chief health officer, Dr. Nichole Quick, who stepped down after facing resistance from some county supervisors along with a barrage of criticism and threats from residents for ordering the public to wear face coverings.
Souleles and Quick could not be reached for comment.
Looking back, county Supervisor Doug Chaffee said he should have done more to back Quick, who faced “ugly stuff,” including protests outside her home, where she lives with her three children.
“She tried to follow the science and her best judgment,” he said. “I supported her, but not publicly enough.”
Although the county supervisors couldn’t overrule Quick’s health orders, some board members repeatedly peppered her with tough questions that likely took a toll and contributed to her resignation, according to Chaffee.
“We can argue and cajole,” he said. “That’s a lot of stress and it’s wearing.”
The supervisors asked Dr. Clayton Chau, director of the Orange County Health Care Agency, to pull double duty and fill in for Quick. “Dr. Chau can roll with the punches, has a subtle sense of humor and is more suited for the role,” Chaffee said.
San Bernardino County Public Health Director Trudy Raymundo, who retired in May, didn’t mention the pandemic as a reason for leaving, but indicated she needed a break after 30 years of service, county spokesman David Wert said.
Raymundo could not be reached for comment.
Corwin Porter, assistant director of the San Bernardino County health department for nearly five years, has been appointed to succeed Raymundo.
Despite the health department’s new leadership, the county’s strategy in addressing COVID-19 remains the same.
“The county’s response has evolved and been refined to match the growing and changing needs of the pandemic, but probably no differently than it would have had Trudy remained director,” Wert said
In other parts of California, public health leaders in Shasta, San Benito, Yolo, Nevada and Butte counties have either resigned or retired since May, possibly owing to the pressures and demands of leading the fight against COVID-19.
“Public health officials throughout the state are working day and night to protect their communities from illness; and, in many cases, they are subject to threats and harassment from the very people they work hard to protect,” DeBurgh said.
Exodus growing nationwide
Outside of California, the exodus of health officials also seems to be growing.
A review by the Kaiser Health News service and The Associated Press finds at least 49 state and local public health leaders have resigned, retired or been fired since April across 23 states. The list has grown by more than 20 since the AP and KHN started tracking the departures in June.
Among those departures were these officials:
- In Oklahoma, both the state health commissioner and state epidemiologist have been replaced since the outbreak began in March.
- In Ohio, the state’s health director resigned in June after months of pressure, during which lawmakers tried to strip her of her authority and armed protesters showed up at her house.
- And in rural Colorado, the director of a county health department was fired in May after clashing with county commissioners over reopening recommendations. The person who replaced her resigned July 9.
Dr. Tom Frieden, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, called the numbers stunning. He said they reflect burnout, as well as attacks on public health experts and institutions from the highest levels of government, including from President Donald Trump, who has sidelined the CDC during the pandemic.
“The overall tone toward public health in the U.S. is so hostile that it has kind of emboldened people to make these attacks,” Frieden said.
Departures come at bad time
The departures come at a time when public health expertise is needed more than ever, said Lori Tremmel Freeman, CEO of the National Association of County and City Health Officials.
“We’re moving at breakneck speed here to stop a pandemic, and you can’t afford to hit the pause button and say, ‘We’re going to change the leadership around here and we’ll get back to you after we hire somebody,’ ” Freeman said.
Many of the firings and resignations have to do with conflicts over mask orders or social distancing shutdowns, Freeman said. Despite the scientific evidence, many politicians and others have argued that such measures are not needed, no matter what health experts tell them.
“It’s not a health divide; it’s a political divide,” Freeman said.
The Associated Press and Kaiser Health News contributed to this report.
