Joe Theine, who as executive director of the San Juan Basin Health Department guided the agency through rocky economic times last year, has resigned.
Theine tendered his resignation to the health department board last week. A department statement Monday said he has taken a job with another health-care agency in the community.
In an interview, Theine said he is the practice administrator for a Durango physicians group. He prefers to let the group announce his appointment, Theine said.
As for his tenure at the health department, about a month short of two years, Theine said he is proud about how the organization, from board members to staff members, pulled together.
“We created a single organization with common focus and common goals,” Theine said. “It’s been a pleasure to serve our community. I respect the agency’s ongoing ability to provide valuable programs and services to protect human and environmental health and inspire well-being in the community.”
“We hate to see Joe go because of the wonderful job he did,” board president Bob Ledger said Monday. “It’s fair to say the health department is stronger now.”
Ledger credited Theine with bringing modern management practices to the department, all the while saddled with side issues, Ledger said.
“The department suffered a tremendous revenue loss when our grants were cut,” Ledger said. “Joe had to preside over the layoff of employees and program cuts.”
Theine changed the direction of the health department from one that simply provided service to one that facilitated services through collaboration with other agencies, Ledger said.
Theine had been director of the Mercy Regional Medical Center clinic on East Third Avenue for about 3½ years when he was hired by San Juan Basin Health Department in June 2011.
He replaced Leon Vinci, who was forced out three months earlier when an investigator from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office in Kansas arrived in Durango as part of an investigation into discrepancies in Vinci’s past employment.
daler@durangoherald.com
