Sonoma County’s Interim Health Officer Kismet Baldwin has started work with San Mateo

Like two months after she took the job Sonoma County Interim Health OfficerDr. Kismet Baldwin has been appointed San Mateo County Health Officer, according to San Mateo County officials.

The move came as a surprise to Sonoma County health workers who learned of Baldwin’s departure through San Mateo County media reports.

Those reports are based on a May 23 news release from the San Mateo County Executive’s Office.

Sonoma County has not released an official statement about Baldwin’s departure.

A Sonoma public health worker, who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation from higher-ups, said she wasn’t surprised.

“A lot of us are hearing from the media,” the employee said. “It’s frustrating but I’m not surprised. We will distribute the text among ourselves.

The public health worker said she and others have not received word from Tina Rivera, director of the Department of Health Services, Public Health Parents Agency.

It was Baldwin. On April 6, Sonoma County appointed an interim health office. She replaced him. Dr. Sundari MassThe epidemic and other major public health issues, such as wildfire recovery, went away three years later.

Baldwin played a key role in addressing racial disparities during the outbreak and led the county’s response to mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, last summer.

A San Mateo news release states that Baldwin will begin her new post on August 7. She succeeds Dr. Scott Morrow, who worked for San Mateo County for 31 years.

A San Mateo County news release noted, “As the Bay Area health officer, I have worked with many wonderful colleagues in San Mateo County on regional initiatives, including the response to COVID-19, mpox and other public health issues. I look forward to the opportunity to build on Dr. Morrow’s decades of service and dedication to the residents of San Mateo County.

The Press Democrat has reached out to Baldwin, Rivera and other county officials for comment.

County spokesman Paul Gullickson said the county does not typically make public announcements about the departure of key officials. He said he would make a statement announcing his resignation on August 7.

This is a growing story. Check back for updates.

Sonoma County Interim Health Officer Staff Secretary Martin Espinoza can be reached at 707-521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @pressreno.