San Antonio Metro Health's director has resigned.
City Manager Erik Walsh says Dawn Emerick submitted her resignation last night.
"Last night, I received a letter of resignation from Metro Health Director Dr. Dawn Emerick. Clearly, the timing is not good, but we wish her well in her future endeavors. The COVID-19 emergency has revealed the depth of talent that exists within our health department, which will continue to lead the public health response. Dr. Bridger and I will work with my team to develop a plan going forward," said Walsh in an email statement," said Walsh.
Emerick joined San Antonio Metro Health at the end of January, just weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in San Antonio.
"The recent black lives matter protest has forced me to reflect on the equity question I asked during my interview on whether replacing a white female executive leader with another white female leader, and a 60% Latinx Community, with set the new leader up for success and create Community confidence," Emerick wrote in her resignation letter. "The residents of this community and the Metro Health Workforce deserve a leader who can effectively relate to their personal experiences and who can be trusted to deconstruct systematic racism experienced by so many people of color everyday. It's time to place a leader of color at the top of this department."