Thurston County's Health Officer is leaving her role the first week of March, she has announced.
Dimyana Abdelmalek stepped into the role in July 2020, about four months after the county learned of its first COVID-19 case. She broke the news of her departure during a Board of Health meeting last week.
"I did want to say that it has been incredible to serve as Thurston County's health officer..." Abdelmalek said. "As I look around this room and as I hear our discussion as a Board of Health, I am really excited and hopeful for the direction that we're going in as a county."
Abdelmalek was a key figure in the county's COVID-19 response. She regularly provided the county with critical updates about disease transmission and outbreaks. She also issued guidance to schools and the wider community, attended vaccination events and was generally on call, even on weekends.
Dr. Jennifer Freiheit, director of Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS), started a round of thanks for Abdelmalek, and presented her with a certificate and plaque for her service.
"I just want to say thank you, Dr. A, because you came right in the middle of a pandemic," Freiheit said. "You served this county. You served all the residents tirelessly."
Abdelmalek became the county's permanent health officer after the previous one, Dr. Rachel Wood, left in November 2019. Wood's departure left the county without a health officer just before the pandemic began.
Former Health Officer Diana Yu, who retired in 2013 after a 23-year career, returned to the role in March 2020 to specifically lead the county's COVID-19 response. She re-retired after a nationwide search led to Abdelmalek's hiring.
County Commissioner Tye Menser, the only current commissioner who was serving at that time, paused as he addressed Abdelmalek.
"Your leadership through the pandemic... It's getting me choked up," Menser said. "We relied on you. We had three commissioners who didn't know anything about health. I was the chair of the Board of Health. You led us with a steady hand and I always felt confident. Thank you."
Commissioner Carolina Mejia, who started her first term in 2021, thanked Abdelmalek for her work during the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
"That was such a chaotic time," Mejia said. "It really was. And thank you so much for always providing the information we needed to get out to the community. You were at every vaccination event I went to, so I know you were putting in extra time to really be sure that things were going smoothly and that people were getting their questions answered."
Abdelmalek said told the board she is stepping away to do "more clinical work with underserved communities." However, she said she intends to remain part of the community for now.
"It's bittersweet and I'm really excited for my step," Abdelmalek said. "I will be around in our community at least part time for the foreseeable future, so I'll be supporting from the outside."
Last month, the board of health approved an interlocal agreement that spells out a process by which Thurston County may ask the Washington State Department of Health to appoint a Regional Medical Officer as an acting Local Health Officer in the event of unforeseen circumstances or a vacancy.
Freiheit said the county will sign the agreement so the county can have Region 3 Medical Officer Alice Tin serve as the county's interim Health Officer until a permanent Health Officer can be appointed.
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