Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 

Public Health Leaders Across California Are Retiring, Resigning Amid The Coronavirus Pandemic

  •  Scott Rodd 
Thursday, May 28, 2020 | Sacramento, CA
Nick Ut / AP Photo, 2015

Trudy Raymundo, director of the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, second from left, speaks during a news conference on Dec. 7, 2015.

Nick Ut / AP Photo, 2015

Half a dozen public health leaders in counties across California are leaving their posts amid the coronavirus pandemic, and experts suspect burnout is partly to blame. 

“These are tremendously high-pressure jobs, particularly now,” said Bruce Pomer, a health care consultant and former executive director of the state Health Officers Association. “They’re really under fire … this is where science and professionalism get tested in a political world.”

CapRadio has found six health officers and directors — from Butte to San Bernardino counties — who have announced their retirement or resignation in the past five weeks. Most recently, on Thursday, Nevada County announced its public health officer would retire by mid-summer.

Public health officers and directors serve different functions, but both leadership positions are considered critical for departments to function. Officers are medical professionals who provide public health guidance, especially during outbreaks and disasters. Directors handle the administrative and planning side of public health. Both positions are appointed by elected officials.

While a number of counties say the departures were planned in advance, experts say the pandemic — and the political turmoil caused by shutting down the economy — may have accelerated decisions to leave office. They add that filling these specialized positions can be challenging, and could leave some counties scrambling if a second wave of coronavirus comes to fruition in the fall. 

“This leads to what I'm afraid is going to be a brain drain for public health,” said Kat DeBurgh, executive director of the state Health Officers Association. “I'm afraid with the way that health officers are currently being portrayed, we're not inspiring the next generation to want to take on this role.”

These six public health officers and directors have announced their resignation or retirement since mid-April:

  • Nevada County: Public health officer Dr. Ken Cutler, announced retirement this week, effective in July. The county says he’s been planning retirement for six months. (Cutler did not respond to requests for comment)
  • San Benito County: Interim public health officer Dr. Marty Fenstersheib announced his resignation in late April, reportedly due to a split among political leadership over his shelter-in-place and mask orders. He now leads Santa Clara County’s coronavirus task force. (Fenstersheib did not respond to a request for comment)
  • Yolo County: Public health officer Dr. Ron Chapman announced his retirement on May 20, effective at the end of June. A county press release says Chapman had been planning to retire. (Yolo County declined an interview request)
  • Butte County: Public health officer Dr. Andy Miller announced his resignation in May, effective July 10. Miller and county officials say the resignation was not over policy disagreements. (Butte County declined an interview request)
  • Orange County: Public health director David Souleles announced his retirement internally in mid-April, effective May 1. (Orange County declined an interview request)
  • San Bernardino County: Public health director Trudy Raymundo announced her retirement in early May, effective by end of the month. She held the position for about a decade. (Raymundo did not respond to a request for comment)

DeBurgh says some of these counties have faced repeated public health crises even before the coronavirus, which can contribute to burnout. Butte County, for example, endured the Oroville Dam evacuation, the catastrophic Camp Fire and a measles outbreak in the past couple years alone. 

And now, public health leaders are battling a pandemic. 

“Many health officers are working 90, 100 hours a week and doing all they can to fight this,” DeBurgh said.

On top of the long hours, experts say public health officials have had to endure scrutiny from politicians and the public during hearings. 

DeBurgh pointed to recent Board of Supervisors meetings in Riverside County as an example of a public hearings getting contentious and at times personal. Earlier this month, supervisors directed the county’s health officer to rescind and revise some of his coronavirus safety orders.

According to Pomer, this can wear on public health leaders who are not used to navigating the bruising arena of politics.

“You’re the professional scientific face to the public,” he said. “And in this kind of a political environment, when there’s an anti-vax movement and [fewer] people believing in science — it’s a difficult time to be in that position.”

Observers say filling these vacant roles can be challenging under normal circumstances. But during a pandemic, the stakes are much higher. The effort to safely re-open the economy is fast-moving and fluid, requiring regular guideline updates and recalibrations.

And with experts warning of a resurgence in cases in the fall, counties face a ticking clock.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    More about Coronavirus

  • NIAID-RML via AP

    Coronavirus In California: Latest Updates And Resources

    The coronavirus has impacted nearly every aspect of life in California and around the world. Here are resources and all our coverage at CapRadio and NPR.

    Related Stories

  • Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo

    Placer County Health Officer Resigns After Board Terminates COVID-19 Emergency Declaration

    Thursday, September 10, 2020
    Placer County’s public health director announced her resignation Wednesday after the board of supervisors voted to terminate the local COVID-19 emergency declaration. It's the latest instance of county health officials stepping down around the state.

 Coronavirus

Scott Rodd

Former State Government Reporter

Scott Rodd previously covered government and legal affairs for the Sacramento Business Journal. Prior to the Business Journal, Scott worked as a freelance reporter in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.  Read Full Bio 

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More Stories

Stephanie Hughes

Garbology is the study of trash. This is why students love it

March 24, 2023

Scott Olson/Getty Images

The FDA may soon authorize a spring round of COVID-19 boosters for some people

March 29, 2023

Martin do Nascimento / CalMatters

As floods endanger the San Joaquin Valley, Newsom cuts funding for floodplains

March 29, 2023

Most Viewed

A plumber crawled under a house in Los Angeles to do a job and then went missing

State may scale down its new home loan program designed to assist first-time homebuyers

California coronavirus updates: The FDA may soon authorize another round of boosters for some individuals

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

California coronavirus updates: Americans' life expectancy has dropped to 76 years, second time in a row since pandemic

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

A plumber crawled under a house in Los Angeles to do a job and then went missing

State may scale down its new home loan program designed to assist first-time homebuyers

California coronavirus updates: The FDA may soon authorize another round of boosters for some individuals

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

California coronavirus updates: Americans' life expectancy has dropped to 76 years, second time in a row since pandemic

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a Tip / Story Idea
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.