Pacific County confirms new public-health leadership: deputy health officer and director appointed

The Pacific County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 14 confirmed Dr. Brianna De Silva Vahisha as deputy health officer and approved the appointment of Gracie Meeks as director of Public Health & Human Services, effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Why it matters: The confirmations put permanent leadership in place for the county’s health department after a period of vacancies and internal transitions; the appointments shape public-health operations and fiscal management for county programs.

The board confirmed Dr. Brianna De Silva Vahisha as deputy health officer; the county continues to contract with Clark County for health-officer services, with Dr. Alan Melnick serving as the contracted health officer. The transcript records that the deputy position had been vacant for nearly a year and that the deputy will coordinate with Dr. Melnick and environmental health staff on health-officer duties.

Separately, the board appointed Gracie Meeks as health and human services director at step 6 of the special employment agreement, effective Jan. 1, 2025, subject to budget appropriations. The board noted Meeks’ nearly nine years with the department, her service as deputy director and her master’s in public health. Board members praised her fiscal work and leadership during the COVID-19 response.

No formal dissent or alternative candidates were recorded at the meeting. Both the deputy-health-officer confirmation and the director appointment were approved by voice vote.

Ending: The board welcomed the new director and deputy officer; both appointments were described as steps to stabilize department leadership and to support upcoming transitions in county financial systems and ongoing public-health programs.