(Glenwood) — It’s been a whirlwind first month for Mill County’s prime well being official.
Lorie Ann Gentry took over because the county’s new public well being administrator in late May. Gentry succeeds Julie Lynes, who retired after 32 years with the company. A northeast Kansas native, Gentry holds bachelor’s levels in enterprise administration from Kansas Wesleyan University and in accounting from the University of Oklahoma. She has labored in finance and administration positions for the final 25 years. Gentry was residing in Pacific Junction when the Missouri River flooding devastated the neighborhood in March, 2020. Speaking on KMA’s “Morning Line” program Tuesday morning, Gentry says that have led her to hunt the Mills County place.
“I keep in mind how great all people was in Mills County,” and Gentry, “and the way all people got here collectively as a neighborhood and helped out. So, that was one motive is I simply needed to provide again in the neighborhood that supported me once I wanted them probably the most.”
One of Gentry’s first duties is constant to watch COVID-19. Mills County not too long ago dropped from a medium to low threat when it comes to COVID. Sixty-five p.c of the inhabitants 12 and over are totally vaccinated, whereas 75% have at the least one vaccine dose. Still, Gentry says 10 new COVID circumstances have been reported final week.
“We are nonetheless operating a COVID (vaccine) clinic each different week at Mills County Public Health,” she mentioned. “But, we’re discovering that only a few persons are coming in to get their vaccinations from us. As , vaccinations at the moment are obtainable in all places it appears, whether or not it is out of your main care doctor, or a pharmacy. So, for us, we’re seeing a decrease demand for vaccinations, however we have now been getting extra questions since there was a spike in constructive circumstances, not too long ago.”
Gentry says her workplace can be receiving reviews of tick-borne ailments, together with West Nile Virus. In addition, Iowa’s first case of the Monkeypox virus was reported over the weekend–though not in Mills County.
“It amazes me, the entire completely different well being threats which are on the market,” mentioned Gentry. “I did not actually understand it as only a regular citizen till I grew to become a public well being administrator.”
However, Gentry credit the division’s workers in making her transition smoother.
“Everybody may be very skilled,” she mentioned, “and so they go alongside simply doing regular enterprise right here in public well being. But for me, because it’s form of a brand new position in a brand new trade, it is form of been like ingesting from a hearth hose. There’s rather a lot to study.”
Anyone with questions relating to COVID vaccinations or different well being points ought to contact Page County Public Health at 712-527-9699. You can hear the complete interview with Lorie Ann Gentry right here:
Lorie Ann Gentry, Mills County’s new public well being administrator, talks about her background and new job, and updates Mills County’s COVID-19 state of affairs.
