Director of South Carolina’s health agency resigns in middle of pandemic

SOUTH CAROLINA — The man at the helm of South Carolina’s state health agency is resigning in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic.

Director Rick Toomey’s resignation was approved Wednesday during the Department of Health and Environmental Control’s scheduled board meeting.

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Toomey, who has dealt with some health issues, said that he is feeling fine and that he’s stepping down to spend more time with his family.

“Please know that this decision was not an easy one for me to make and while my health remains stable, I need to be in Beaufort more with my family,” Toomey said in his resignation letter.

He also noted that during his leadership, the department exceeded its goal to test 110,000 South Carolinians for COVID-19 in May and the state began its careful transition toward a new normal.

“This momentum has reassured me that the timing of my decision to step down as agency director is right for me and my family,” he added.

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Marshall Taylor will serve as Acting Director of DHEC until the board selects Toomey’s replacement. Taylor currently serves as the agency’s chief legal counsel.

A native of Greenville, Toomey holds more than 32 years of public health administration and executive management experience.

Prior to his current role, he served as the President and CEO of Beaufort Memorial Hospital. In addition, he spent eight years as a health care consultant, primarily in Tampa, Fla., and Chicago, Ill., before joining the staff of Nash Health Care Systems, Rocky Mount, N.C., in 1989. In 1998, he was named President and CEO of Nash Health Care Systems. Toomey most recently served as a member of the S.C. Board of Health and Environmental Control.

His final day with the health department is June 10.

Below is a copy of his resignation letter:

It is with profound and mixed emotions that I share my decision with you to resign as the agency director, effective June 10, 2020. Please know that this decision was not an easy one for me to make and while my health remains stable, I need to be in Beaufort more with my family. Although my time serving DHEC is shorter than intended, I recognize that I cannot effectively lead and fully honor the role if I’m not in Columbia.

I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve accomplished together as Team DHEC and I know first-hand that others also recognize our great work. The work that is done at our agency is critically important to our great state.

It is nearly impossible for me to adequately express my gratitude and appreciation for the support that you have given me. I’ve found this to be true at every level in our organization—from the Upstate to the Lowcountry, each deputy area, and front line staff, leaders, and the agency’s Executive Leadership Team. Equally impressive is the support that DHEC has received from the Board, state agency directors, members of the general assembly, and Governor McMaster and his staff particularly during these challenging months as we have responded to COVID-19.

It has been one of my greatest honors to serve the State of South Carolina and be part of such an outstanding agency. Together, we have exceeded our goal to test 110,000 South Carolinians for COVID-19 in May and the state has begun its careful transition toward a new normal. This momentum has reassured me that the timing of my decision to step down as agency director is right for me and my family.

Marshall Taylor will serve as acting director for the agency until the Board selects the next DHEC director.

All my best,

Rick