Beilenson resigns as Howard County Health Officer

COLUMBIA, Md. - Dr. Peter Beilenson, a prominent fixture in the local public health scene for years, Wednesday announced his resignation as Howard County Health Officer to become the CEO of the Evergreen Health Cooperative.

Beilenson, who had previously served as Baltimore City's Health Commissioner for 13 years, resigned after more than five years as the top health official in Howard County.

Dr. Maura Rossman, deputy health officer of clinical services for the county Health Department, was appointed interim health officer.

While in Howard County, Beilenson, oversaw the creation of Healthy Howard, which facilitates access to affordable health care for uninsured county residents. Although initially criticized by some as an unnecessary expense, Healthy Howard has been largely praised in recent years as an innovative measure that helped find health insurance for thousands of county residents. also encouraged schools and restaurants to serve more nutritious food, put up signs in parks and schools that say, "When thunder roars, go indoors," to protect children from getting struck by lightning. He also, and banned teenagers from visiting tanning salons to protect them from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays.