Interim health director named

Suzanne Kirkham, a 26-year public health veteran, has been named interim executive director of the Salt Lake Valley Health Department. She will replace Patti Pavey, who will resign at the end of the year to pursue a career in the private sector.

A permanent director will be chosen after a Salt Lake Valley Board of Health search process that is expected to take four to six months.

Kirkham has served for the past three years as deputy director of the health department, as well as division director of administrative services. "She has a strong public health background and proven management skills," said Board of Health chairwoman Cheryl Cook in announcing the appointment Monday. "We're lucky she is able to step in and keep things going."

Kirkham, a native Utahn, holds a master's degree in public administration from Brigham Young University.

Pavey is leaving to head up the medical education department of a new medical technology company, TechniScan. In recent months, she has been critical of the lack of a "direct reporting relationship" between the health department and former Salt Lake County mayor Nancy Workman.