The new Washington County Public Health Director shared her progress of the job during her first Board of Health meeting last Thursday.

Since her first day on November 29th, interim director Chris Estle shared that Emily Tokheim has completed several mandatory trainings, some Federal Emergency Management Agency courses, and attended several Zoom meetings with regional and statewide colleagues in addition to taking phone calls and getting to know the county staff, “Those are some things that she’s been working on and doing and achieving. I have no question, she’s hit the floor running. She’s done an amazing job, I tell her that quite frequently. She has great staff to work with her and to make sure that she succeeds, not just her, but the whole entire department.”

Estle recommended that the county should let the 28E agreement expire for her at the end of December. Tokheim shared how she will continue to work with the Jefferson County Public Health Director, “Chris and I have had some conversations about how do we move forward? Of course we have that professional working relationship and that mentor relationship but continuing that on in a structured manner. We have decided to move forward with weekly check in calls between her and I, in addition to the ongoing mentorship.”

Estle pointed out that not only does Tokheim have her, but she can rely on the valuable county staff and other regional public health partners. Originally from Panora, Tokheim received her Master’s degree in public health from the University of Iowa last spring and her Bachelor’s in public health from the university prior to that.