Barbie Robinson Fired from Head of Harris County Health Department

Barbie Robinson, the former head of the Harris County Health Department, was recently terminated from her position amidst allegations of a possible conflict of interest involving a consulting company that held county medical contracts. The controversy, as reported by the Houston Chronicle, led to Robinson’s dismissal.

Robinson assumed her role as the executive director of the Harris County Health Department in 2021. The consulting company in question, Dema Consulting and Management, ceased operations earlier this year after an investigation by California officials.

Interestingly, Dema had ties to Sonoma County, California, where Robinson had previously served as the director of health services for five years. The company was awarded contracts to operate two county COVID testing and vaccination sites soon after Robinson’s appointment.

Subsequently, Dema secured a lucrative contract for a program related to responding to non-violent 911 calls, prompting scrutiny into the nature of Robinson’s relationship with the company. Emails between Robinson and Dema hinted at a potential conflict of interest, as per the Houston Chronicle’s findings.

In response to the allegations, Robinson denied any wrongdoing in an interview with the publication. Despite her denial, Harris County Administrator Diana Ramirez confirmed Robinson’s dismissal, with Leah Barton appointed as the interim executive director of the Harris County Public Health Department.

Looking ahead, Ramirez announced that a national search would be launched to find a permanent replacement for Robinson’s former position. The development marks a significant change in leadership within the health department, with the county aiming to navigate this transition smoothly.

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