Leggett Appoints Dr. Travis Gayles County Health Officer and Public Health Chief

For Immediate Release: Monday, October 2, 2017

County Executive Isiah Leggett today announced the appointment of Dr. Travis A. Gayles as County Health Officer and Chief of Public Health Services, Department of Health and Human Services.  The County Council approved his appointment and Gayles assumed his role in mid-September.

 

“I am pleased that Dr. Gayles has joined the leadership team in Montgomery County,” said Leggett.  “The health and well-being of our residents is of great importance and he has the combination of experience and training to be an important asset to our community.”

 

“We are very happy to welcome Dr. Gayles to his role,” said Uma S. Ahluwalia, director of the County’s Department of Health and Human Services.  “We are fortunate to have such an accomplished public health professional join our team.”

 

Gayles was most recently the chief medical officer for the HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD and Tuberculosis Administration and division chief for STD-TB Control for the District of Columbia’s Department of Health.  Prior to joining the District, he served as the director of HIV Testing and Prevention for the Division of Adolescent Medicine at the Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago/Northwestern where he served as primary care provider for adolescents and young adults living with HIV, as well as the Chicago House Social Service Agency’s Home for transgender women living with HIV.

 

A native of Chase City, Virginia, Gayles completed his BA (Public Policy Studies) at Duke University, and his PhD (Community Health) and MD from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.  He is a published author and presenter in numerous peer reviewed journals and conferences, particularly related to sexual and adolescent health, and is currently co-editing a book on Adolescent HIV Medicine.

 

As health officer, Dr. Gayles will oversee all federal, state and locally funded public health services within Montgomery County.

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Release ID: 17-439
Media Contact: Mary Anderson 240.777.6534