UPDATE: DHEC’s Public Health Director chooses not to go to Ohio after all

Ohio Gov. says Dr. Joan Duwve withdrew her name despite announcing she had accepted state's top public health job earlier Thursday

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — A public health figure who had appeared alongside Gov. Henry McMaster (R-SC) at several news conferences related to the COVID-19 pandemic has chosen to stay put in South Carolina, despite initially agreeing to become Ohio’s new public health director earlier Thursday afternoon.

Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH) announced on Twitter that Dr. Joan Duwve had agreed to become the head of Ohio’s Department of Health. However, nearly six hours later, DeWine announced on Twitter that Duwve had withdrawn her name from consideration due to “personal reasons.”

Duwve has been in South Carolina since April, when she took over as the Public Health Director for South Carolina’s Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). Duwve, who had previously worked in Indiana, had appeared at several news conferences with the Governor, including one earlier in September when nursing home visitation restrictions were adjusted.

Prior to coming to South Carolina, Duwve had served as the Associate Dean of Practice for the Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, and also served as the Chief Medical Officer for the Indiana State Department of Health.

At a press conference Thursday afternoon, Marshall Taylor, the Acting Director for DHEC, said he had learned from Dr. Duwve that she would be taking the position in Ohio earlier in the day, saying it was his understanding that she wanted to move closer to family. Dr. Duwve grew up in Ohio, and received her bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University.

In his tweet, Gov. DeWine said he is continuing his search for his state’s top public health official. Whomever he chooses to the post would take over for Dr. Amy Acton, who resigned back in June.

ABC Columbia has reached out to DHEC for comment.