Garrett County Health Officer Bob Stephens to retire

OAKLAND — The Garrett County Health Department is searching for a new leader.

Health Officer and Director Bob Stephens, 66, of Mountain Lake Park, plans to retire July 1.

“Most of my peers are retiring and I want to pass the reins to someone who has more energy and additional ideas of how to improve the health and wellness of the community,” he said.

In 2000, Stephens accepted a job as the health department’s director of community and family health.

“I was approached by Rodney Glotfelty, the health officer at the time who informed me of the position vacancy,” Stephens said. “I knew very little about public health at the time but he said that he could teach me. And, he did.”

Career highlights

Stephens became the county’s health officer in 2017.

He said his work with the department’s staff to gain recognition from the Public Health Accreditation Board are among his career highlights.

“Garrett County was designated as a Robert Wood Johnson Culture of Health Community in 2017,” Stephens said.

He enjoyed “working with the many dedicated folks in the health department and around the community to improve the lives of our most vulnerable individuals,” and being presented the Maryland Rural Health Associations Outstanding Rural Health Achievement Award.

“But, mostly it was coming to work every day with such skilled and dedicated staff,” Stephens said.

Funding challenges

The most difficult aspect of his career dealt with the department’s budget due to the changing nature of public health threats, and generally underfunded prevention, Stephens said.

“Both state and local funding may be a challenge in future years due to the many obligations that are faced by governments that include public education, public safety and transportation,” he said. “The Garrett County commissioners are very committed to public health.”

Funding the high cost of qualified professional staffers is always tough, Stephens said.

“The GCHD is a provider of last resort for mental health and substance abuse treatment,” he said. “We are also a safety net provider for dental care and home health services. These clinical programs are expensive to operate. We provide services because there are not enough private providers in the community.”

Pandemic, epidemic

COVID-19 also presented various struggles “mostly due to the politics that were involved,” Stephens said.

Prior to the pandemic, Stephens said he was aware such an event would and will again occur, he said.

However, he was surprised “that it happened during my watch,” Stephens said.

“For the most part, our community really supported the measures that were required to mitigate the spread of the disease long enough for the treatment and prevention measures to be developed, tested and approved,” he said.

Another challenge was the opioid epidemic.

“In addition to the many tragic overdose deaths that we see around us, addiction is ripping apart families and creating challenges in every sector of the community,” Stephens said. “There are too many children who are struggling because of the hold addiction has on their parents and grandparents.”

‘Committed individuals’

Stephens wants the community to be aware of many local resources.

“I believe we are fortunate in Garrett County to have so many committed individuals and agencies who work together to make Garrett County an amazing place to live and work,” he said.

After he retires, Stephens plans to volunteer at community agencies, including Rotary, Habitat for Humanity and Faith Church where he’s been a member for 30 years.

“Hopefully, I will be boots on the ground,” he said.

Additionally, Stephens and his wife Linda plan to travel to destinations including national parks and Civil War battlefields.

The couple also aim to bicycle in New Zealand next winter.

“It will be summer there,” Stephens said.

“We are looking forward to many new adventures,” he said.

‘Countless contributions’GCHD Interim Public Information Officer John Corbin said Stephens’ “countless contributions to Garrett County” expanded local, regional and national partnerships so residents have quality public health services.

“(Stephens) entrusts his legacy, spanning across public health disciplines, to the seasoned, qualified, and exceptional staff that have flourished and grown in capacity under his leadership,” Corbin said.

“During Bob’s tenure at (GCHD), our team has continuously innovated to deliver effective and efficient public health solutions that have been regionally and nationally recognized as promising and model practices that are being adopted by other counties in Maryland and local health departments across the country,” he said.

“While we are excited about Bob’s new journey, we are grateful for the magnitude of his contributions that have impacted every element of public health and well-being for all who live, work, and play in Garrett County,” Corbin said.

According to Maryland Law, county commissioners in consultation with the Maryland Department of Health will replace Stephens.

“The process is underway, and the position is currently advertised,” Corbin said.

‘Go-to’ personGarrett County Administrator Kevin Null has known Stephens as the the county health officer and through his volunteer work for various local organizations.

“Bob has been the Garrett County Health Officer for seven years and has been a great partner with the county, always responsive, looking for new opportunities and ensuring residents have health and wellbeing services,” Null said.

“Bob led the project team when (GCHD) was ... one of only six health departments accredited in the state of Maryland,” he said.

Stephens was the “go-to” person during the COVID-19 pandemic, and provided guidance and support to the county commissioners and citizens with factual, reasonable information, Null said.

“Bob also led the health department’s response to the opioid epidemic,” he said.

Stephens spent his career “serving the citizens of Garrett County and is recognized throughout the state for his leadership,” Null said.

“We wish him well in his retirement,” he said.