By Mike Shields
KHI News Service
Howard Rodenberg
TOPEKA, Nov. 15
Effective today, Dr. Howard Rodenberg is no longer director of health at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
“Secretary (Roderick) Bremby relieved me of duty this morning,” Rodenberg said in a telephone interview.
Rodenberg declined comment on the reasons Bremby gave for dismissing him, but said he had not expected the move.
“Surprise? Yes, it was,” he said. “The people I work with are great and I”ll miss them terribly.”
KDHE officials were tight lipped about the dismissal.
“I can confirm he is no longer serving in that function,” said Joe Blubaugh, a spokesman for the agency. “And I can tell you the dates he served, 2/28/05 to effective today, 11/15/07. But obviously, we can”t talk about personnel issues.”
Rodenberg, who did double duty as the state”s health officer, came to KDHE from Daytona Beach, Fla. where he had served as director of the Volusia County Health Department.
He earned his medical degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine.
As director of the division of health at KDHE, Rodenberg managed hundreds of employees and dozens of programs ranging from child care licensing to disease control and prevention.
Rodenberg’s firing surprised many, including Edie Snethen, executive director of the Kansas Association of Local Health Departments. The organization represents 99 of the state 100 local health departments.
“We found Howard to be a good partner, willing to come out to all parts of the state and willing to visit with people in the communities,” Snethen said. “He was a strong, public health professional.”
Blubaugh said Richard Morrissey will serve as interim director of health. Morrissey is a long-time official with the agency, having
served in various posts including
director of the Office of Local and Rural Health and director of the Bureau of Health Facility Regulation.
A law amended in 2005
removed the requirement that the Senate confirm the person appointed by the secretary to be director of health. The amendment also set a four-year term for the position.
-Mike Shields is a staff writer for KHI News Service, which specializes in coverage of health issues facing Kansans. He can be reached at mshields@khi.org or at 785-233-5443, ext. 123.