Stanislaus County is losing public health leader. Search begins for a new top doctor
Dr. Julie Vaishampayan, public health officer for Stanislaus County, is retiring after more than five years as the county’s chief adviser on public health issues.
Her retirement will take effect in early November. The county is using a recruitment firm with experience in the field to find the next public health officer, county Chief Executive Officer Jody Hayes said Friday.
“We are sad to see her go,” Hayes said. “As with all our people in high-level positions, we are happy for them when they are wrapping up their careers and moving on to retirement. I know many people in our organization will miss her.”
Hayes said he expects the recruitment will take a couple of months. The county should have a candidate to fill the role by early November, he said.
Vaishampayan, who was often called by her nickname, “Dr. V,” was the assistant health officer for neighboring San Joaquin County before taking over the top position in Stanislaus County in May 2017. She was embroiled in the battle against COVID-19 about half of her time with the county.
The county will search for a new expert on contagious diseases as it now tries to protect residents against the monkeypox virus. Vaishampayan is expected to keep leading that effort in the next two and a half months.
“From what I have seen working with her (on COVID) in the last two and a half years, she is on the job pretty much seven days a week and I’m not expecting anything different,” Hayes said.
The open position was posted on career sites Thursday, seeking applicants to be the county’s top health expert. The public health officer also is responsible for working with state and federal health agencies.
The county is advertising the position at a regular salary range of $189,000 to $283,700 a year. According to the State Controller’s office, the county paid $285,542 in regular and other pay to Vaishampayan in 2021.
This story was originally published August 22, 2022 at 6:45 AM.
