Firing may hinder search

Finding a replacement for Dr. Kim Thorburn – even temporarily – might be more difficult than Spokane Regional Health District board members anticipated, the state’s longest-serving health officer said.

Dr. Ed Gray has agreed to advise the local health district, but he said Thorburn’s lingering no-confidence vote, protracted evaluation process and abrupt dismissal last week would make others leery of stepping in.

“The way they did it sent a chill through the public health community,” said Gray, health officer for the Northeast Tri-County Health District, who said he was amazed and disappointed at Thorburn’s firing.

“I would not serve as an interim director unless they have a clear understanding of what I think of what they did.”

His views were echoed by other state health officers who expressed surprise and dismay at the action.

“Spokane will find it hard to find a replacement with the qualifications and dedication of Dr. Thorburn, especially in light of their recent action that would appear to be more politically motivated than driven by issues of effecting good public health policy,” said Dr. Roger S. Case, health officer in Island County.

“And no, I would not volunteer to serve as interim director of public health in Spokane.”

Board members agreed to terminate Thorburn’s contract without cause because of unspecified administrative issues and ongoing communication problems.

It’s the board’s responsibility to hire and fire staff members, noted Todd Mielke, the board chairman.

“I would hope Dr. Gray would not insert himself into personnel matters,” he said Monday.

Besides, an interim director might not be necessary, said Mielke, who indicated that an overhaul of the agency’s structure may be in the works.

Conversations with senior staff members are just beginning, Mielke cautioned, but board members could decide to do away with the position of a medical officer who also serves as chief administrator. Instead, the district could decide to separate those functions as many other agencies do.

“The staff has expressed interest in having a discussion,” said Mielke.

State law requires health districts to employ a health officer, but that person need not be the lead administrator, Mary Selecky, state secretary of health, said Monday.

It’s not clear how long it might take to reorganize the health district structure then fill any ensuing positions. Selecky said that recent searches for health officers elsewhere in Washington have taken four to six months, although it took nearly a year to hire Thorburn in 1997.

Meanwhile, health district officials will pay Thorburn nearly $25,000 in salary and benefits during the 60 days she’s on paid administrative leave, which began with the announcement last week. They’ll also pay her a year’s base salary – $125,000 – under terms of the terminated contract.

Searching for a replacement nine years ago cost about $8,000, including fees for lodging, airfare and moving expenses, said Torney Smith, health district administrator. That amount doesn’t include costs for a search firm or for advertising, he noted, adding that fees undoubtedly have risen.

Gray, who’s been a health officer since 1965, expressed concern that some duties of the public health officer couldn’t be covered by a mutual aid agreement.

“If you’ve got a guy running around with contagious tuberculosis, you’ve got no way to stop him right now,” Gray said.

But Selecky said that Spokane’s public health district legally can be managed through the agreements with neighboring counties.