The Wyandotte County Public Health Department has parted ways with its health director, Elisha Caldwell, amid controversy over the handling of the recent tuberculosis outbreak in the Kansas City area. Emails obtained by the Kansas News Service show a series of conflicts between the local health department and state and federal officials.
Caldwell took over as head of the Wyandotte County Health Department in August 2024, just months before the outbreak began. The emails reveal that there were tensions from the start, with Caldwell accusing CDC staff of being rude to his employees and entering office spaces without permission.
Despite efforts by KDHE to communicate with the health department, the emails show a lack of trust between the two parties. Caldwell expressed frustration over funding for the outbreak, which he claimed was not addressed adequately.
In November 2024, KDHE took over work on the outbreak, and public health officials have expressed concerns about the transition. Despite this, they say that no cases were missed or patients discontinued treatment as a result of the change in leadership.
Dr. Janet Stanek, Wyandotte County Health Department’s secretary, was involved in the controversy. Her comments on Caldwell’s email thread appeared to criticize his teaching experience, which sparked a heated response from him.
The transition has left health officials concerned about maintaining trust with communities affected by the outbreak. “Trust is really hard to develop and maintain without continuity and stability,” said Dr. Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga, a public health expert who reported on the issue for the Kansas News Service.
The incident highlights the challenges of managing large-scale public health responses and the importance of maintaining trust with communities during such events.
Source: https://www.kcur.org/news/2025-02-12/kansas-tuberculosis-outbreak-wyandotte-county-health-director