By Adam Pagnucco.
The Montgomery County Medical Society has released the statement below praising county health officer Travis Gayles.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 18, 2020
MONTGOMERY COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY RECOGNIZES TRAVIS GAYLES, M.D., MONTGOMERY COUNTY (MARYLAND) HEALTH OFFICER, FOR HIS LEADERSHIP DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Statement from Annette Pham, MD, FACS, President, MCMS
On behalf of the Executive Board of Montgomery County Medical Society, a professional association representing more than 1,600 physicians practicing in and/or living in Montgomery County, we wish to thank Travis Gayles, M.D., Montgomery County Health Officer and Chief of Public Health Services, for his exemplary leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We commend Dr. Gayles for putting science first. Given the nature of the novel virus, his insistence on the use of scientific public and population health guidelines has been critical to ensuring the safety of Montgomery County residents. The reason that COVID-19 cases in Montgomery County have not been greater is due, in large part, to the aggressive public affairs and collaborative public health initiatives under his direction.
Sometimes these decisions have been unpopular; however, we commend Dr. Gayles for being a physician first using his medical knowledge and experience, strategic leadership, and passion for and dedication to our community’s health to tackle the challenges associated with COVID-19. His efforts have been professional, fair, and tireless. He is committed to the best interests of ALL Montgomery County residents.
The medical society has appreciated his collaboration with our organization to ensure physicians in our community have been kept informed throughout this crisis. We look forward to continuing collaborative efforts to also advocate for our patients as we head towards the next phase of recovery.
We are fortunate to have Dr. Gayles lead Montgomery County’s public health efforts. He is a critical asset to our county.