Welcome, Dr. Barbra Villona.
After a year-long and highly competitive recruitment process, Thurston County Public Health & Social Services (PHSS) has selected Barbra Villona, MD, MPH&TM, DTM&H, FACEP, as the new Thurston County health officer. As health officer, she serves as the county’s lead medical authority on communicable disease response, health advisories, and key public health policy decisions.
Dr. Villona brings considerable emergency medicine, EMS, and global health experience to her public health practice.
Outgoing Board of Health Chair, Dr. Beth Harvey, expressed that she “felt confident concluding her term as chair now that a qualified health officer was selected.”
“I decided to step away from direct patient care in the emergency department to accept this position, but after decades of shift work, I still very much identify as a clinician.” Dr. Villona hopes to partner with other county providers in efforts to improve community trust in health care.
Prior to joining the Thurston County PHSS team, Dr. Villona served as a Deputy Public Health Officer for Josephine County in Southern Oregon. With 30 years of experience as an Emergency Medicine physician, including recent practice in rural southern Oregon, Dr. Villona brings a deep understanding of clinical medicine and community health needs. Much of her career has also been spent overseas, teaching emergency medicine and delivering medical care in resource-limited settings.
PHSS Director Dr. Jen Freiheit welcomes Dr. Villona to the team, stating that her extensive experience, leadership, and passion for public health will be invaluable as the county continues to address both ongoing and emerging health challenges. “We are thrilled to have Dr. Villona join our team,” said Dr. Jen Freiheit. “We look forward to sharing broader awareness of public health data and science to all corners of the county.”
