Kanawha-Charleston Health Department board members announced Tuesday they've hired Dr. Laura Gateley as interim executive director - replacing her husband, Dr. Kerry Gateley.
One Dr. Gateley is stepping down as the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department's chief, while another Dr. Gateley is stepping in.
Health board members announced Tuesday they've hired Dr. Laura Gateley as interim executive director - replacing her husband, Dr. Kerry Gateley.
Laura Gateley, 49, will take over for her husband on a temporary basis when he leaves for a new job as health director of a five-county region in Virginia next month.
"I know exactly what I'm getting into," said Laura Gateley, who also works as Clay County's health director and as a $62.50-an-hour medical consultant to Kanawha County schools. "I happen to be qualified, and I'm just keeping things going while the board looks for a permanent person."
Health board members said they had eight applicants for the interim post, but Laura Gateley was the only one with public health experience.
"It's important to have someone who understands how to deal with public health issues," said incoming board President Brenda Isaac, who also works for the school system with Gateley. "She made it quite clear she's there to deal with the day-to-day operation. She doesn't want to get involved in the political issues."
The board plans to confirm Laura Gateley's hiring at a July 17 meeting. The state Bureau for Public Health also must approve the selection.
Gateley plans to work six to 10 hours a week. The interim job pays $1,900 a month.
Board members predict it will take two to three months to hire a permanent health director.
"It's certainly something we're not going to drag our feet on," said health board member Stephen Weber.
Kerry Gateley announced his resignation last month, citing his frustration with an ongoing political battle over plans to move the Health Department building to make way for a new downtown hotel.
At the time, Gateley said he was reluctant to recommend a fellow physician for the interim or permanent health director's job because of the "unsettled situation."
One Dr. Gateley is stepping down as the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department's chief, while another Dr. Gateley is stepping in.
Health board members announced Tuesday they've hired Dr. Laura Gateley as interim executive director - replacing her husband, Dr. Kerry Gateley.
Laura Gateley, 49, will take over for her husband on a temporary basis when he leaves for a new job as health director of a five-county region in Virginia next month.
"I know exactly what I'm getting into," said Laura Gateley, who also works as Clay County's health director and as a $62.50-an-hour medical consultant to Kanawha County schools. "I happen to be qualified, and I'm just keeping things going while the board looks for a permanent person."
Health board members said they had eight applicants for the interim post, but Laura Gateley was the only one with public health experience.
"It's important to have someone who understands how to deal with public health issues," said incoming board President Brenda Isaac, who also works for the school system with Gateley. "She made it quite clear she's there to deal with the day-to-day operation. She doesn't want to get involved in the political issues."
The board plans to confirm Laura Gateley's hiring at a July 17 meeting. The state Bureau for Public Health also must approve the selection.
Gateley plans to work six to 10 hours a week. The interim job pays $1,900 a month.
Board members predict it will take two to three months to hire a permanent health director.
"It's certainly something we're not going to drag our feet on," said health board member Stephen Weber.
Kerry Gateley announced his resignation last month, citing his frustration with an ongoing political battle over plans to move the Health Department building to make way for a new downtown hotel.
At the time, Gateley said he was reluctant to recommend a fellow physician for the interim or permanent health director's job because of the "unsettled situation."
"He said several times, 'Are you sure you know what you're getting into?'" Laura Gateley recalled Tuesday.
She said she considers Isaac and Health Department staff members her "good friends," and wanted to help them during the search for a permanent health director.
Gateley vowed to make no policy recommendations during her stint as acting director, and she doesn't plan to apply for the permanent job.
"There's no ambition to it," she said. "I don't need this job."
She expects to stay in Charleston until her daughter - an incoming senior at George Washington High School - graduates next year. Kerry Gateley has said he plans to return to Charleston on weekends after he starts his new health director's job in Lynchburg, Va.
Although Laura Gateley plans to play a caretaker role as interim health director, the department faces at least two hot-button issues in the coming weeks: a proposed cross-town move to a Morris Street warehouse, and the county's expanded smoking ban, which takes effect July 1.
The new regulations will prohibit smoking in bars, gambling parlors and the Tri-State Racetrack & Gaming Center.
"The understanding is Dr. [Laura] Gateley is going to be at the Health Department when she needs to be there," Weber said. "We have every confidence she's going to be capable of taking care of things on an interim basis. The offer was made because she had the background to step immediately into the role."
Kanawha County Commissioner Kent Carper praised the health board's decision Tuesday.
"It provides the stability and continuity that the Health Department so desperately needs," Carper said.
"This is fantastic news. She's an excellent choice."
Reach Eric Eyre at erice...@wvgazette.com or 348-4869.
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