State Health Department's top doctor to step down

hopefully someone more progressive on mmj to fill his seat.

By Jennifer Brown
The Denver Post

State Health Department's top doctor to step down - The Denver Post

Dr. Ned Calonge, who for eight years has handled flu, bioterrorism and water contamination crises as the state's chief medical officer, is leaving to become president of the Colorado Trust.

The Trust, one of the state's largest foundations with a $360 million endowment, gave away nearly $22 million in grants last year to improve health in Colorado, including money to help find uninsured children eligible for government programs.

Calonge, a former family doctor who has spent his career on preventative medicine, called the Trust a "treasured asset of the people of Colorado." He will work part-time there and the state health department from September to November, when he becomes the full-time chief executive of the Trust.

Calonge said it's likely the state health department will name a temporary replacement until a new governor takes office in January and appoints someone to the post.

Calonge, 55, said he views the new job not as a transition toward retirement, but a "daunting challenge" that will require all of his skills. The Trust's current mission â?? that all Coloradans have access to health care by 2018 â?? aligns with his lifelong goals of improving rural health care in particular, he said.

"I like the idea of going from a bureaucrat to a philanthropist," he said.

Trust chairwoman Kathryn Paul said Calonge "brings all of the truly exceptional qualities we were looking for."

"He has a lifelong commitment to improving health and access to health care, he is devoted to ensuring that work is firmly grounded in a strong base of evidence and he excels at uniting diverse perspectives around common goals," she said.

During his tenure at the state health department, Calonge handled the public health scares of anthrax, SARS, bird flu and, last year, H1N1 swine flu and a hepatitis C outbreak caused by a hospital surgical tech addicted to painkillers. Lately, he's been dealing with medical marijuana, an issue he considers a distraction from the more important parts of his job.

Calonge has served as chief medical officer through five executive directors of the state Department of Public Health and Environment, most recently working for Martha Rudolph.

He also has a national reputation in preventative medicine, serving as chairman of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which makes recommendations on everything from how often people should exercise to what age women should get mammograms. Calonge formerly was chief of preventive medicine for Kaiser Permanente Colorado.

Calonge grew up in La Junta, where he tagged along with his physician father on house calls.

He replaces Irene Ibarra as the Trust's president.

Ned was a hater, and the reason for the intentional delaying of red cards.

Glad to see him go, but you always wonder if the replacement will be worse.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SoCoMMJ

Ned was a hater, and the reason for the intentional delaying of red cards.

Glad to see him go, but you always wonder if the replacement will be worse.

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my thoughts exactly. I don't think we could find much worse. He was simply opposed to the program he led.

I say Dr. Manuel Aquino-Villaman ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SoCoMMJ

Ned was a hater, and the reason for the intentional delaying of red cards.

Glad to see him go, but you always wonder if the replacement will be worse.

---

Hopefully, but you never know!! With all this deceit and attempts to minimize what patients and caregivers can do, as well as violating our rights.... ...

Whatʻs gonna stop emʻ from putting another anti MMJ doucher as top Doc for CDPHE!!

good by and don't let the door hit ya!:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbs up::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: