Dr. Douglas D. Lewis leaves board after two full terms

March 4, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

The Rev. Lewis W. Macklin II, pastor of Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, was named president pro tem of the Youngstown City Board of Health at its meeting Monday .

The Rev. Mr. Macklin replaces Dr. Douglas D. Lewis, who will leave the board effective March 31. Dr. Lewis served two full five-year terms and was president pro tem the last five years. His leaving will create a vacancy on the board.

Board members are appointed by the mayor to five-year, staggered terms and serve without pay. The mayor presides over the board and serves as the nonvoting president of the panel. Board members must leave the health board after two full five-year terms. Health- board meetings usually are at 8 a.m. the first Monday of each month.

The other board members are Mayor John A. McNally, president; JoAnn Blunt; Artis Gillam Sr.; and Christine Silvestri.

Dr. Lewis, a pediatrician and internist with a private practice in Campbell, said he believes the biggest challenge for the health board in the future is providing the same level of services with less money.

He said developing a program specifically dedicated to minority health issues was one of the highlights of his tenure on the board.

Mr. Macklin, who also is a member of the Mahoning County Children Services Board and several other community organizations, said achieving state accreditation for the local department is one of his primary goals.

The city health department has begun the process.

As a condition to continue receiving funding from the Ohio Department of Health, it may require general or city health districts to apply for accreditation by July 1, 2018, and be accredited by July 1, 2020, by the Public Health Accreditation Board.

The aim of accreditation is to improve the quality of practice and performance within public health departments and to increase accountability of health departments to their stakeholders, according to ODH.

There are two local health departments in Ohio accredited: Licking and Summit counties.