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By: Jenna Oden

Dr. Olugbenga Obasanjo resigned as the director for Georgia Department of Public Health District 4 Monday morning at 4:33 a.m.

The LaGrange Daily News received Obasanjo’s resignation email Wednesday through an open records request.

“This email serves as notice of my resignation as District Health Director at the Georgia Department of Public Health effective immediately,” Obasanjo wrote to Dr. Kathleen Toomey, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Georgia Department of Public Health Director of Communications Nancy Nydam confirmed Obasanjo’s resignation on Tuesday but did not release more details.

“Beyond that, DPH does not comment on personnel matters,” Nydam said.

A call to Obasanjo on Tuesday went directly to voicemail.

In response to his resignation, Barbara Stephens, Director of Business Operations/HR Director District 4, sent out an email to all staff stating Dr. Obasanjo tendered his resignation as District Health Director for District 4 and Clayton Health District.

“While we are sad to see him go, remember he has provided us with the skills and encouragement to continue leading District 4 and Clayton Health District into greatness. We will continue to serve our communities to the best of our abilities during this transition and beyond,” Stephens said in the email.  “The executive leadership team will work together to insure [sic] continuity of business operations, and we are here for you, whatever your needs.  As soon as more definitive plans are in place, we will be in correspondence with you all.”

According to the DPH website, before entering his director position, Obasanjo’s served for more than five years on the front lines of public health in Africa. He worked with the AIDS Prevention Initiative, a project of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to develop and deliver health policy and programs to control and prevent HIV infection in Nigeria. He also developed health communication intervention programs for private companies and Nigerian governments at the local, state and national levels.

He returned permanently to the U.S. in 2009 as a medical officer with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

In May 2011, he began work as a physician in Prince William County in Northern Virginia then took a tour of duty in the Middle East with the U.S. Army as a Preventive Medicine Officer.