The Oklahoma State Department of Health has announced a new state epidemiologist.
Jolianne Stone, formerly deputy state epidemiologist, will be the fourth official to serve in the role over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, following Laurence Burnsed, Dr. Aaron Wendelboe, and outgoing Dr. Jared Taylor.
Stone's "past experience includes Infection Prevention Manager at Integris, and she brings her unique perspective addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in a hospital setting to this new position," according to a news release from the state.
Taylor will be moved to a position as chief science officer, which the department said "will work to bring an academic lens to operations at OSDH and public health initiatives in the state."
OSDH also named Dr. Gitanjali Pai, an infectious diseases specialist from Stilwell and regular contributor to weekly COVID-19 updates from OSU's Project ECHO, to the post of chief medical officer. "In her new role as CMO, she will provide medical oversight of OSDH operations and public health initiatives," the department said.
“We congratulate these three individuals on their new roles, and we’re grateful for the service they have provided and will continue to provide to our state,” State Health Commissioner Dr. Lance Frye said in a statement. “These three positions are particularly crucial right now as we strive to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic and improve our response to future pandemics. I’m confident they’re the right people for the job, and I look forward to working with them to protect the health and wellness of Oklahomans.”
News outlet The Hill reported that Wendelboe left the role not long after warning state officials that the June rally for President Donald Trump at Tulsa's BOK Center would likely be directly responsible for deaths from COVID-19.
