Fayette County Health Department appoints interim leader; his hiring raises questions
A doctor with nearly a half-century of medical experience was tapped Monday as the Lexington-Fayette County Board of Health’s interim chief administrative officer.
Dr. Steve Davis, who has served as the department’s medical director and has 48 years of experience practicing medicine, will help the department oversee day-to-day operations as it searches for a permanent leader, health officials said Monday.
However, Davis’ appointment was announced to Lexington-Fayette County Health Department staff in a Friday email before the formal Board of Health vote. The Lexington Herald-Leader obtained the email Friday.
Majd Jabbour, chairman of the board of health, said board members did not meet prior to Monday’s meeting, but said he thought as chairman of the board he could temporarily appoint an interim administrative chief officer.
Jabbour said he thought previous interim directors were also appointed the same way.
Davis started working on-site Monday before the Board of Health vote.
The by-laws of the Board of Health do not allow the chairman to make unilateral decisions on the appointment of the chief administrative officer. The by-laws state the Board of Health appoints a commissioner or an acting commissioner.
The state laws overseeing the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department also do not allow an interim director to be appointed by one member of the board.
Davis said he was still acting as medical director of the department when he started work on Monday prior to Monday night’s vote.
“On Monday, I worked with the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department as a continuation of my role as medical director,” Davis said. “ In communication with the Board of Health, I anticipated Monday evening’s appointment and expressed my interest in working with this dedicated team of public health professionals. I’m honored by the trust the board put in me and by the amount of support the health department staff have provided already this week.”
Davis, who also served in the Kentucky Department of Health before retiring in 2012, will replace interim chief administrative officer Jack Cornett. The former board member and health department chief financial officer abruptly announced his resignation in late September.
Cornett’s last day was Oct. 11.
The 170-employee department has a $27 million annual budget and a staff of 170. Its staff led the city’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic. It also leads a series of public health initiatives including restaurant inspections, school nurses, runs programs for new mothers and has a needle exchange program.
Nearly all of its funding comes from tax dollars, including a local property tax that generates around $9 million a year.
The Board of Health is appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council.
The department has struggled to be attract and retain a leader since 2021.
Dr. Joel McCullough was hired but resigned in July 2022.
After McCullough, Dr. Sheila Owens-Collins was appointed to the position in January 2023. She was fired in April 2023. The board eventually entered a settlement agreement with Owens-Collins and paid her more than $95,000, documents obtained by the newspaper show.
The board is still searching for a permanent leader, Jabbour said Monday. Interviews are continuing for the position and the board hopes to have a permanent leader by the first of the year, he said.
Davis is from Pike County but moved to Lexington as a child. He is a graduate of Tates Creek High School and later graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.
Davis said Monday he looks forward to working with the board and the staff over the next few months.
“I want to thank you for your confidence,” he said.
Davis, who has served as the department’s medical director for years, said he believes in the staff at the department.
This story was originally published October 16, 2024 at 11:08 AM.
