Director of the St. Louis County Department of Public Health Faisal Khan announced Thursday that he is resigning effective in September. 

Khan’s resignation is effective Sept. 2. An interim director will be named before his last day. 

“We appreciate the passion and leadership of Dr. Khan and wish him well in his next chapter,” County Executive Sam Page stated in a press release. “Like health directors across the county, he faced intense criticism, including threats against his life, for following science and data in making decisions to keep our community safe from a deadly virus. 

Khan’s history with the department goes back to 2010 when he worked for the department until 2018, first as director of communicable disease control services and later as department director. He then was the CEO of the Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center in Kansas City before returning to the St. Louis County health department in February 2021. 

His tenure as acting health director included overseeing the department’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which did not come without contention. In 2021, the County Council voted 5-2 against confirming Khan as the permanent health director, following several months of debate at County Council meetings about the county’s mitigation efforts, as well as Khan’s actions at some of the meetings toward attendees, which included making a rude gesture after a meeting in July. 

“I thank Dr. Page for his support and trust,” Khan stated. “It has been an honor and a privilege to have worked in public service with selflessly dedicated professionals who will continue their selfless commitment to the health and wellbeing of the residents of St. Louis County.”