The planets aligned, and Dr. Gregory Branch is now the county’s new health officer.
Branch, who was confirmed to the position Oct. 6, served three 60-day terms as acting health officer since his predecessor, Dr. Pierre Vigilance, left in February.

Don Mohler, a spokesman for Jim Smith, said, “The county executive was always interested in Dr. Gregory Branch.”
In February, Mohler said the county was interested in Branch but also said the county would start a nationwide search for a candidate. The search never occurred. The county held the position open and waited for Branch to decide on
whether or not to take the job, Mohler said.

“Dr. Branch wasn’t sure this was the option he wanted to pursue,” Mohler said.

Branch said he delayed making a decision while helping his son and a godson, whom he cares for, make the transition into college.

“They were in what I call a transition part of their lives,” Branch said. “They were graduating from high school and going to colleges and we weren’t too sure exactly where they were going or how much support I was going to have to give them. I didn’t want to take on the position of health officer until I got them squared away.”

Branch said he wasn’t surprised the county held the position open for him but said he was grateful.

“I appreciate the fact that they would wait,” he said. “I’m just glad. We felt it would be mutually beneficial.”

“It kind of all fell into position,” he added “The moon aligned with Mars and with Jupiter and Venus, and it kind of all just worked out personally and professionally.”

The County Council confirmed Branch on Oct. 6 without discussion or debate.

“We are familiar with Dr. Branch since he has been serving, with the consent of the council, as the acting health officer for a period of time and prior to that he was the deputy,” said Kevin Kamenetz, the council chairman.

Vigilance served as health officer for a two-year period marred with the revelation that, although he had graduated medical school, he was not a licensed physician as required by state law.

Branch was hired to fill the state’s requirement that a licensed physician hold the health officer or deputy health officer position. He has been licensed to practice medicine in Maryland since 1991, according to state records.

Bryan P. Sears is political editor for Patuxent Publishing Co.’s Baltimore County newspapers.

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