State health officer, mayors, school officials laud departing Jefferson County health officer Dr. Mark Wilson

Reaction to the impending departure of Jefferson County public health officer Dr. Mark Wilson was swift and unequivocal.

“Dr. Mark Wilson has been an extraordinary leader in addressing a broad range of public health issues to promote healthy lifestyles for his community and state,” said state health officer Dr. Scott Harris. “He has been dedicated to public health and persevered throughout the multitude of challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been a privilege to work with Dr. Wilson, and he will be greatly missed.”

“The day-to-day operation of the health officer is really an anonymous job,” said Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens. “But when he was needed most, he stepped up and stepped out and made decisions irrespective of political consequences and critics—and you know that there were people on both sides that were second guessing Mark and his advice and his decision making.

“He had lawmakers actually crafting legislation to curtail his powers because they didn’t agree with him,” Stephens added. “But he knew what was needed and he made those decisions irrespective of the political consequences, and you have to admire him for that.”

RELATED: Jefferson County health officer Dr. Mark Wilson: ‘I’ve cried a lot’

After more than a decade as the county’s leading public health official—and a preeminent, calming voice in the most heightened and heated days of the COVID-19 global pandemic—Wilson, 61, recently informed officials at the Department of Public Health he would leave no later than the end of 2023, sooner if they were to hire his replacement.

“My predecessor, Dr. Mike Fleener, said he was at the beginning of his tenure, he would do ten years, and that’s exactly what he did,” Wilson shared. “By the time I stepped down, it will be about twelve years. That’s probably about an average tenure for Jefferson County Health Officer.”

More than 2,500 Jefferson County residents have died from COVID-19 since March 2020, and more than 230,000 positive cases have been reported during that period.

The pandemic “just took a little bit of the gas out of my tank,” he said. “I don’t quite have the same level of energy and drive to do the work that needs to happen going forward.”

Wilson said he began thinking about resigning, however, prior to the pandemic. He was transparent about the timeline to address concerns his departure was sparked by the tragic death of his oldest daughter, Laura, last December, by suicide. “It is not the reason I’m stepping down,” he said, “but it may have accelerated about a few months. It took a little bit more gas out of my tank.”

“I was shocked when he called me [about stepping down] and I was afraid he made the decision when he lost his daughter,” Stephens said. “He assured me that he didn’t. I understand. There’s only so much you can do in a position, and you want to leave while there’s a flame still there and your desire is not snuffed out, and I admire from knowing when.”

RELATED: Jefferson County health officer took bold steps to save lives

“As a retired medical technologist, I am acutely aware of the impact Dr. Wilson has made on our community,” said Birmingham City Council President Wardine Alexander. “He has worked with many community partners to create a strategic plan and establish new initiatives for JCHD to help residents deal with the disparity in access to preventative medicine and adequate healthcare. His leadership during the height of the global pandemic was a vital resource for informing residents on how to get tested and vaccinated for COVID-19.”

Wilson said one of his toughest periods as health officer came in late summer 2020 after making recommendations to school superintendents across the county regarding the safest parameters for opening the students and teachers that fall.

“I consulted with the school superintendents and gave them a draft of [recommendations] ahead of time,” Wilson said. “We discussed it together before I made it public. So, it was a collaborative process, but at the same time, [the recommendations were] a little more dramatic than some of them expected. The draft was labeled confidential, but it was leaked out.

What followed was basically a firestorm of a lot of parents who were very upset.

“Aside from the trauma related to my daughter, probably one of the most difficult weeks of my life. That was pretty, pretty difficult for me and again, it’s difficult for everybody, but there were a lot of angry people,” Wilson said.

Said Birmingham School Board President Neonta Williams: “His medical expertise and acumen lead our district through some unprecedented times that will forever be etched into history books. Our superintendent, amongst others, sought guidance and direction that assisted in the safety of our schools and because of Dr. Wilson’s expertise, I’m certain that our students, faculty, staff, and families were safer and healthier.”

“Dr. Wilson has been a trusted partner to BCS for many years,” said Birmingham City Schools board member Sonja Smith. “I’ve seen him guide [former BCS Superintendent] Dr. [Lisa] Herring and Dr. [Mark] Sullivan through student-health concerns and was comforted to know they were following his guidance. He will genuinely be missed. It may take time to have the same level of comfort with the next person, but I look forward to working with them and wish Dr. Wilson an enjoyable retirement.”

Wilson also recalled perhaps the earliest conversation with officials throughout the county when it became apparent the pandemic would require dramatic measures, like shuttering some businesses.

“We had convened our local political leaders, our mayors, and our county commissioners and some of their staff to tell them ahead of time: This is what we’re going to do, and this is why,” he said. “What’s memorable about that was the amount of unanimity around that decision or lack of pushback. There really were no overt objections or no objections voiced. That was just quite remarkable considering how things evolved. It was because everybody was scared. this was a very frightening thing facing all of us, with quite a bit of unknown. It was certainly alarming to everyone.”

“Dr. Mark Wilson has been a great friend and wise counsel during my service as mayor,” Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin shared on social media. “His guidance and compassion saved many lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our city owes Dr. Wilson a debt of gratitude and we support him in his new endeavors.”

“Dr. Wilson is one of the most kind and compassionate people I know,” said Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato. “Mark never considered himself to be the expert. It’s amazing to me how he had regular conference calls with all the mayors to give them an opportunity to share their concerns before he made a decision. I know he hurt terribly when he had to make decisions that affected people’s businesses or livelihoods. He did not take his job for granted.”

“I appreciate the candor and honesty he displayed,” Stephens said. “But his passion for the underserved and needy will be his greatest legacy. He has done more to help those in dire need than anyone that I’ve been accustomed to and surrounded with. I’m sure Mark will remain engaged in these many charitable organizations with which he’s been associated, and I feel like he will continue to be an asset to the citizens of Birmingham and Jefferson County.”

Note: If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, reach out to the 24–hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255; contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741; or chat with someone online at suicidepreventionlifeline.org. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours.