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Dr. LaMar is new medical director for DPH
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Posted on Jul 19 2011
After more than six months of searching for a new medical director, the Department of Public Health has finally found someone to take over the post left vacant by Dr. Shirish Balachandra.
John Tagabuel, deputy secretary for public health administration, confirmed with the Saipan Tribune yesterday that Dr. Dan LaMar was appointed to position this week.
“The paperwork for the new medical director for the Division of Public Health has been finalized and Dr. Dan LaMar is now working,” said Tagabuel.
LaMar’s responsibilities will include overseeing all public health programs, majority of which are funded by the federal government.
LaMar succeeded Balachandra, whose contract was not renewed in January. The former medical director, along with former CHC nursing director April Ricotta, has relocated after their departure from the hospital. Balachandra served the position from October 2010 to January 2011.
Balachandra succeeded Dr. Richard Brostrom, who had resigned after accepting a medical job in Hawaii.
According to Tagabuel, Dr. LaMar has been working in the CNMI since early 1990s. He started in the CNMI public sector at the Commonwealth Health Center and Rota Health Center before joining the private sector on Saipan.
Tagabuel said that LaMar is a certified internal medicine physician who got his medical license in Oregon.
Tagabuel earlier said that the medical director plays a vital role in the discussion, planning, and implementation of the division’s programs. He said they were targeting someone from outside the hospital so as not to affect the already limited number of physicians at CHC.
As of May 2011, CHC had 24 doctors, including short-term hires.
