Interim Health Dept. Head in Massachusetts Leaving After 8 Months

The woman appointed to lead the Massachusetts department of health out of two high-profile scandals is leaving her post after about eight months.

Dr. Lauren Smith, appointed as the state's interim public health commissioner last fall, said Friday she will resign next month after finalizing Massachusetts' first rules to regulate medical marijuana use, according to a report in the Boston Globe.

Smith offered no reason for her departure or hints about where she may be headed next, aside from saying she wants to take some time to rest.

The move, Smith added, will also give John Polanowicz, the state's public health secretary, the opportunity to "assemble his own team."

Smith, a childhood health specialist who had been the department's medical director since 2007, wrote in an e-mail to staff members that the last several months "have been difficult" for the department and "those of us that care deeply about this agency's work in public health."

The department has been under scrutiny since last fall's deadly national meningitis outbreak, traced to a pharmacy in Framingham, Mass., that was regulated by the agency.

Red flags were also raised over the mishandling of drug evidence by a chemist at a drug laboratory use by the department --- which put thousands of criminal cases at risk.

Smith's predecessor, John Auerbach, left after six years on the job, amid the expanding drug lab investigation.

Smith said her last day with the department will be May 10, two days after regulators are scheduled to vote on proposed medical marijuana rules.

In a note to health department staff, Polanowicz praised Smith's work in crafting the medical marijuana regulations and improving the oversight of specialty pharmacies after the meningitis outbreak.

He also commended Smith's accomplishments in her five years as the agency's medical director --- which included promoting youth anti-tobacco programs, guiding schools and communities through the 2009 national H1N1 flu pandemic and overseeing the development of sports head injury regulations in schools.

Polanowicz said he has "launched a search for a successor to take over as commissioner in the near future," but did not specify when he expects to name Smith's replacement.