LUCAS COUNTY, Ohio — A familiar face to northwest Ohio will serve as the next commissioner to lead the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, less than a year after Eric Zgodzinski announced his retirement.
According to a press release from the TLCHD, Karim Baroudi was appointed to the role of Health Commissioner in Lucas County, a position he will assume in April. Baroudi has served as as the Health Commissioner for Hancock County since 2016, where he worked to combine city and county health departments and led the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
EARLIER COVERAGE: Hancock Public Health offers weekly vaccine clinic for COVID-19 and flu
Baroudi has previous experience with the TLCHD, where he worked in various positions between 2001 and 2012. From 2012 to 2016, Baroudi worked for the Ohio Department of Health's Northwest District Office in the Bureau of Environmental Health and Radiation Protection.
Between Zgodzinski's retirement and Baroudi's appointment, Shannon Jones has served as Lucas County's interim Health Commissioner. Jones will transition to the role as Deputy Health Commissioner when Baroudi begins his service at TLCHD in April.
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In Hancock County, Lindsay Summit, the current Assistant Health Commissioner, will serve as the interim Health Commissioner until Baroudi's successor is selected. According to a press release from the county, the Board of Health has already activated a search committee to seek new candidates.
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