Neurosurgeon Dave Atteberry, MD, is competing against two other physicians for a position as chief medical officer on the Yakima (Wash.) Health District Board of Health, according to YakimaHerald.com.
The CMO is responsible for providing policy guidance to the board and working with partners and stakeholders to address public health issues, including disease control and prevention, according to the report.
Dr. Atteberry is chief of neurosurgery at Astria Sunnyside (Wash.) Hospital and medical director at Nova Health, an orthopedic and neurosurgery clinic in Yakima.
He was appointed to the board of health in January. "It has been an eye-opening experience in both a positive and negative way," Dr. Atteberry said.
"I think you serve by educating yourself. You educate yourself on the topics at hand," he said. "I've been reading as much as I physically could about COVID-19."
Neil Barg, MD, an infectious disease specialist, and Sara Cate, MD, a family medicine specialist, have also interviewed for the position.
A decision could be made in a vote at the June 30 board of health meeting.