The longtime director of the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department will retire at the end of the year.

Kay Kent, who has been at the helm of the department for 33 years, met with her staff Tuesday morning and told them her retirement would become effective Jan. 1.

Kent said she wants to spend more time with family and friends and pursue many of her other interests.

“I am proud of what we have accomplished at the Health Department – recruiting a competent and dedicated staff, maintaining a focus on serving the public through a variety of services, having a commitment to collaboration with other agencies, increasing funding from nonlocal governmental sources and securing adequate facilities,” Kent said.

The announcement wasn’t a total surprise to Charlotte Marthaler, the department’s director of policy and planning, who has worked with Kent for nine years. She noted that Kent’s husband retired a few years ago and Kent, too, could have retired earlier.

“Kay is a fantastic leader,” Marthaler said. “She has a lot of commitment to the mission of public health, and she certainly inspires that in the staff. We know why we’re here and what the purpose of our work is.”

Kay also was commended by Donna Bell, chairwoman of the department’s board of directors.

Kay Kent

“She is widely regarded as an expert in public health in the state of Kansas and nationally, and we have been fortunate to have benefited from her passion for a healthier community,” Bell said.

Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Rod Bremby issued a statement Tuesday night praising Kent’s service.

“I have had the wonderful opportunity of working with Kay Kent while serving as the assistant city manager in Lawrence, as a member of the Health Board, and more recently as secretary of KDHE,” Bremby said. “Kay is a consummate professional, a tremendous leader and an invaluable partner in health issues and policy.

“Kay has also been involved in helping shape the direction of health policy in Kansas through her leadership role with the Kansas Association of Local Health Departments. She has been a strong advocate for public health for more than three decades and I would like to thank her for the positive impact she has had on the health of Kansans in Douglas County and throughout Kansas. She will be greatly missed. I congratulate her on her upcoming retirement.”

A nationwide search for Kent’s replacement will begin soon, Bell said. She thinks a replacement will be found by the time Kent steps down.

“This is a desirable position,” Bell said. “The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department is well-regarded, and I think once the word gets out that this position is available, we’ll have some outstanding candidates.”