I received the following via email about yesterday's item about Strickland's new health director, Dr. Alvin Jackson. I am not going to reveal the source's name at this time, but this correspondent appears to be genuine and reliable.Dr Jackson runs a clinic for medically under[]served folks - lots of migrant fa[r]mers, apparently. It's not exactly a cash cow, I don't suppose, which is why he can't get anyone to take the patients for him.Interesting stuff. If the department is in such dire need of leadership, one hopes that the governor doesn't wait too long on Dr. Jackson to get his affairs in order.
He told Strickland that he would be starting April 1. He then delayed a month, and then another month, but in April they told us he was in a day and a half each week, and now they are saying he is in Columbus for at least parts of 3 days each week. I've never seen him there, but my supervisor claims to have seen him a few times.
The department really needs leadership. Here's hoping he can provide it.
Also left unresolved is whether or not the good doctor is on the state's payroll yet...
10:15AM UPDATE: (CantonRep.com) Dr. Jackson thinks that it is "a travesty" that we don't have socialized medicine in this country and he wants to "start the revolution" right here in Ohio.
He has some good tips, but having "environmental quality" as one of his top ten health tips is not inspiring confidence...
