Health department announces new medical directors

Posted 6/7/22

The Audrain County Health Department (ACHD) is announcing the hiring of new medical directors for the department.

ACHD Administrator and CEO Craig Brace says the physicians at Cornerstone Family …

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Health department announces new medical directors

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The Audrain County Health Department (ACHD) is announcing the hiring of new medical directors for the department.

ACHD Administrator and CEO Craig Brace says the physicians at Cornerstone Family Medicine, Dr. Alex Finck and Dr. Zack Treat, have agreed to assume the role of medical director of the ACHD. The medical director of a healthcare facility like ACHD is responsible for development and evaluation of standards of medical care throughout the department, providing medical direction to clinical staff, issuance of standing orders for the care of area residents through various programs offered by the ACHD and advising the department in matters of medical policy.

“I am very happy to announce that Drs. Finck and Treat have agreed to come on board with the ACHD and help lead its medical decisions into the near future,” Brace said. “Medical directors are an integral part of making sure we have the proper protocol in place before a new program involving the health of our residents is offered.”

The two doctors are the leaders of a new service model called Direct Primary Care, where they offer a monthly subscription to area residents to provide greater access to healthcare. Cornerstone Family Medicine opened late last summer in Mexico and Dr. Finck, who grew up in Mexico, says their values align with the values of the ACHD, and therefore, that made it an easy decision to come on board as the ACHD medical directors.

“Zack and I both believe in community-based medical practice and you can’t get much closer to that than with public health,” Finck said. “We think our beliefs in how medicine should be practiced match well with what the vision of the health department is going into the future and we’re very excited to be a part of that vision.”

The two take over the position of the ACHD’s medical director from Dr. Simon McKeown, who has served in that role since 2013. Brace says the decision to switch medical directors was in no way a reflection of McKeown’s service to ACHD over the years.

“Not at all,” Brace emphasized. “Dr. McKeown did an exceptional job helping us navigate the COVID-19 pandemic that made us a stronger department to address response to future pandemics and emergencies the department may face and, for that, we thank him wholeheartedly. Dr. McKeown has been a valuable asset to ACHD and will continue to be a loyal public health advocate into the future.”

Drs. Finck and Treat started in their new roles with the ACHD at the first of April.


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