The firing of Harford Co. Health Off. Dr. David Bishai: two perspectives

By Tom Hall,

Published October 28, 2021 at 1:22 PM EDT

Dr. David Bishai, a renowned public health expert and Hopkins educator, was hired as Harford County Health Officer in January 2021. He was abruptly fired by the Harford County Council last week. (Hopkins)

Now, a conversation about a dispute over the Harford County Health Department’s handling of the COVID 19 pandemic. Dr. David Bishaiis a public health expert on the adjunct faculty of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Hired in January 2021 during the COVID pandemic as Harford County's Health Officer, he was abruptly terminated last Friday after a vote by the Harford County Council.

Maryland Delegate Lauren Arikan, a Republican, represents the 7th District, including Harford and Baltimore Counties, in Annapolis.

We will hear from Dr. Bishai later in the program, but first, we're joined by Maryland's 7th District Delegate Lauren Arikan, the Republican Deputy Minority Whip in the General Assembly, who represents Harford and Baltimore Counties. Last May, Del. Arikan began calling for Dr. Bishai’s removal. She joins us on Zoom to explain why.

Then, we're joined by Dr. David Bishai, who discusses his year-long service to Harford County's public health and anti-COVID efforts, and his sudden and unexplained termination by the County Council last week.