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Dr. O'dell Owens Is New Cincinnati Medical Director

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Cincinnati State

Update 5:38 p.m.: Cincinnati State says Provost Monica Posey will serve as interim president.

In a statement, Cincinnati State Board Chair Cathy Crain says, "The Board would like to thank Dr. Owens for the contributions he has made, raising the stature of the institution and bringing all of our political and corporate friends to campus making them aware of the college’s initiatives and achievements." 

Original post: Cincinnati State President Dr. O'dell Owens is leaving the college to become the medical director for the City of Cincinnati.

He will report to Health Commissioner Dr. Noble Maseru.

Maseru recruited Owens and in an interview with WVXU calls him one of the foremost thought leaders in the Greater Cincinnati area.

"We had a conversation and I was completely ecstatic when he said let's continue to have this discussion," Maseru said. 

The Health Commissioner says the scope of Owens' responsibilities include:

  • responsible for the 21 Cincinnati health centers.
  • health education (including economic self sufficiency and violence prevention).

According to Maseru, Owens has the resources to get public and private funding and has "an extraordinary relationship with our municipal leadership in city and county government."
Owens was named Cincinnati State's fifth president in August 2010. Prior to that he was Hamilton County Coroner, first elected in 2004 and re-elected in 2008. 

He will start his new job by the end of October.

Ann Thompson has decades of journalism experience in the Greater Cincinnati market and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her reporting.