Courtesy of Kathryn Spangler
Dr. Kathryn Spangler will step into the medical director role at Mesa County Public Health on June 1.
Courtesy of Kathryn Spangler
Mesa County Public Health appointed Kathryn Spangler as its new medical director, effective June 1.
Unlike the executive director role, an agency press release said, Spangler’s position focuses exclusively on serving as the agency’s primary medical advisor.
The release added that Spangler will be charged with infectious disease response oversight, public health clinic leadership and quality assurance for its regional lab and reproductive health services.
“I am really looking forward to making a positive impact in our community and improving the health of Mesa County,” Spangler said. “I have collaborated with several people from public health in the past. I’ve seen their dedication firsthand and am excited to work alongside them.”
According to an online job posting, the position is part-time, with required hours averaging 10 or fewer per week, and pays $175 per hour.
A Grand Junction High School graduate, Spangler boasts a bachelor’s degree in chemical and biochemical engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, a Master’s in Public Health and a medical degree from the University of New Mexico.
Over the last seven years, Spangler worked as a hospitalist and healthcare administrator at Intermountain Health St. Mary’s Regional Hospital, 2635 N 7th St., including an interim stint as medical director for St. Mary’s Medical Group.
“Her clinical expertise, public health knowledge, and leadership experience make her a perfect fit for our agency,” Mesa County Public Health Executive Director Erin Minnerath said. “We know she will be an incredible asset to our staff and provide invaluable support as we work to serve Mesa County.”
The department’s current medical director, Kevin Fitzgerald, will retire after roughly five years when Spangler steps into the role next month.
A press release Fitgerald’s leadership was “instrumental” in navigating community health challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic to the 2025 measles outbreak.
“After years of dedicated service to Mesa County, he is heading into a well-deserved retirement,” Minnerath said. “He has been an incredible leader and a mentor to so many of us. We are grateful for the legacy of care he leaves behind.”