Marion County Health Department Administrator Melissa Mallow is retiring February 26th next year.
She has worked at the health department for 30 years beginning as a part-time health inspector and worked her way up to become administrator in June 2019.
Mallow is proud of what the department has been able to accomplish during her tenure. They include expanding low-cost labs made available to the public, the free distribution of NARCAN at the department’s two offices to assist in saving lives of those who overdosed on opioid drugs. Mallow says a new program started this year to provide containers free of charge to property dispose of medical sharps has also become popular.
Mallow began her tenure just before COVID-19. She is proud of the way her staff handled the health emergency.
The health department is now advertising for a replacement. Applications will be accepted through November 6th. A committee of the health board will then review them with hopes of making a recommendation on the new Health Department Administrator at the board’s December meeting.
