S.C. names new chief medical officer for COVID-19 response

COLUMBIA (AP) - South Carolina's public health director appeared to be on her way to a new job in Ohio before abruptly withdrawing. Now she won't be keeping her job in the Palmetto State, either.

Joan Duwve took on the role at the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control in April, reporting to acting DHEC director Marshall Taylor.

On Friday, Taylor named Brannon Traxler, the state's chief medical officer for its COVID-19 response, to replace Duwve as interim public health director.

Traxler is a certified surgeon who has served as a physician for the DHEC in infectious disease surveillance and control and emergency preparedness and response. An agency statement released Friday morning said Traxler was assuming the role effective immediately, while Duwve will remain in an advisory role until Oct. 1.

Duwve's planned move to Ohio quickly unraveled on Thursday. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine tweeted that Duwve, an Ohio native, was tapped to helm the state's health department, but his office said later Thursday that Duwve had withdrawn her name from consideration, citing unspecified personal reasons.

"Understandably, Joan has made a career decision that she feels is in the best interest of her family and we respect this decision," acting DHEC Director Marshall Taylor said in a statement Friday.

Prior to Duwve's arrival in South Carolina, the state had gone more than a year without a public health director.

The shift in key agency personnel follows the May departure of DHEC director Rick Toomey, who said he was stepping down for health and family reasons. DHEC's board had spent 17 months looking for a new director before selecting Toomey in late 2018.