MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles announced he will resign next month, after serving in the role since 2017.
Dr. Gayles, who played a major role in the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Maryland, told Montgomery County Council and County Executive Marc Elrich in a letter Wednesday that his last day on the job will be September 12.
"I have enjoyed the opportunity to serve the residents of Montgomery County for the past 4 years, including through the past 18 months related to Covid-19. It has been an honor to work alongside you all and provide health related guidance across a host of important issues," Dr. Gayles resignation letter reads. "Thank you for creating a space for science to be heard and embraced, and for advocating for equitable access to improved health outcomes for all of our residents."
Dr. Gayles said he will work closely with county staff to facilitate a smooth transition. He did not provide a reason for his resignation, though Elrich noted that Elrich endured "unprecedented" attacks from the public during the pandemic.
"Throughout this pandemic, Dr. Gayles has been a voice of reassurance and reason that our residents have counted on during the worst public health event in modern American history," Elrich said. "I have relied on him because I trusted his decisions would be guided by science, not politics."
Elrich doubled down on his praise during the weekly COVID Zoom update, and acknowledged that Gayles was the driving force behind the county’s repeated decisions to adopt stricter restrictions on mask mandates and business closures, which were frequently at odds with Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's guidance.
"Dr. Gayles is gonna go down as probably one of the most important leaders of one of the most critical times in the history of our county his leadership,"the county executive said.
Montgomery County currently has one of the highest vaccination rates in the country among large jurisdictions, with more than 86% of those over 18 vaccinated, according to federal tracking data.
Elrich said Dr. Raymond Crowel will immediately begin working with the Maryland Department of Health to fill the Health Officer position, and that the county's Department of Health and Human Services and Board of Health will continue the county's COVID-19 pandemic response.
"Dr. Gayles is a major reason for our success in having the highest vaccination rate of any large county in the nation," Montgomery County Councilman Will Jawando said. "His advice and tireless commitment to public health measures in the face of adversity, along with his commitment to equity, have been invaluable. He will be missed."
Watch: Dr. Gayles speaks on the very first COVID cases confirmed in Maryland on Mach 6, 2020.