Fulton County’s health director will retire in the wake of recent criticism of the way her department handled tens of millions of dollars in federal grant money.
Dr. Patrice Harris will retire at the end of the year. She submitted her resignation last week, saying new responsibilities as chair-elect of the American Medical Association “will consume an enormous amount of her time and attention,” County Manager Dick Anderson said in announcing her retirement late Tuesday.
Harris endured intense criticism after Fulton officials learned in June the county had to return nearly $9 million in federal grant money for HIV testing and prevention. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Monday the county's inept handling of a $28 million grant was plagued by poor leadership and staffing shortages.
The county later received about $3.4 million of the returned money back.
County officials were clearly irritated with Harris when they grilled her about the grant problems in June. But the announcement of her retirement – issued last Tuesday – made no mention of the problems.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the citizens of Fulton County. I look forward to ongoing work on national health policy issues that I believe will have a positive impact on the health of our community,” Harris said in a prepared statement.
Harris’ appointment as chair-elect of the AMA puts her in line to become the next chair.
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