CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Dr. Ayne Amjad’s time as the State Health Officer in West Virginia and Commissioner for the Bureau of Public Health was dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her time in that role began in July 2020, just a few months into the pandemic and ended on Saturday, as the pandemic is ongoing.
Amjad told MetroNews that she is proud of the work the state did under her leadership and continues to do with the coronavirus. She said it has taught healthcare officials many lessons to use moving forward.
“Holding meaning, being transparent, talking to what people need and what, and following through on things. To me, even making baby steps makes a big difference. You don’t always see a big accomplishment but we have made a lot of baby steps to get things done,” Amjad said.
Amjad announced the news of her stepping down on Sept. 6 during a coronavirus briefing with Gov. Jim Justice. Amjad will remain a senior advisor to his office.
She will return to her private practice in Beckley. Since 2010 before being appointed, Amjad, of Beckley, had been a private practice physician specializing in internal medicine and preventive health care serving residents in Beckley, Oak Hill and Princeton.
Amjad said she wants to get back to her clinical practice and return to patients. She expects at least 90% of her old patients to return to see her.
“When I took this role too, I didn’t realize I couldn’t continue my clinical practice. I left abruptly, I didn’t get to speak with patients directly that I had seen for more than 10 years,” Amjad said.
Aside from work on the pandemic, Amjad said she is proud to put an electronic death record system in place in West Virginia. She said it makes West Virginia ‘progressive.’
“The last two-plus years have been good in the sense that I saw a lot of people who worked very hard, dedicated and committed to teamwork. I am all about teamwork,” Amjad said.