Thurston County hires new health officer following months-long search
Thurston County hired a new health officer many months after the previous one left the role.
Dr. Barbra Villona officially started on Dec. 1. As the health officer, she is serving as the county’s lead medical authority on communicable disease response, health advisories and public health policy, the county announced in a Thursday news release.
Villona’s hiring follows a months-long, “highly competitive” search, according to the release. She reportedly brings “decades of medical, public health and global health” experience to the county. She is replacing Dr. Dimyana Abdelmalek, a key figure in the county’s COVID-19 response who left the role in March.
The health officer role is based in the county’s Public Health and Social Services Department. When reached for comment, PHSS spokesperson Renae Miller said Villona will be paid $134,748 per year as a regular county employee.
Miller said Villona’s position is budgeted as a 0.6 full-time-equivalent, meaning her role is considered part-time rather than full-time.
County Manager Leonard Hernandez welcomed Villona in a prepared statement.
“On behalf of the entire Thurston County leadership team, I am pleased to welcome Dr. Villona as our new Public Health Officer,” Hernandez said. “She brings a rare and valuable set of skills to our already exceptional Public Health team, and I know that together, they will elevate our efforts to ensure every resident has access to the information and care they need to thrive. We are fortunate to have such a dedicated and talented group.”
PHSS Director Jen Freiheit also welcomed Villona to the county in a prepared statement. She said her “experience, leadership and passion for public health” will help the county meet ongoing and emergent health challenges, per the release.
“We are thrilled to have Dr. Villona join our team,” Freiheit said. “After thorough vetting by the Thurston County Board of Health, and the County’s Human Resources Department, it was decided that Dr. Villona’s expertise would greatly benefit Thurston County. We look forward to sharing broader awareness of public health data and science to all corners of the county.”
Applicants for this role went through multiple rounds of interviews with the Board of Health, the body that governs the local health jurisdiction that serves Thurston County, Miller said in an emailed statement.
Each person was “carefully evaluated” on their qualifications, experience, communication skills and “alignment with the community’s public health needs,” Miller said.
“This rigorous approach ensured that the most capable and well-suited individual was selected for the role,” Miller said.
The county relied on the support of the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department for the duration of the vacancy, Miller said.
“We extend our sincere appreciation to their Health Officer, Dr. Jay Miller, for providing interim coverage and expertise throughout this period,” Miller said.
Villona has worked as an Emergency Medicine physician for 30 years, according to the release. That includes recent practice in rural, southern Oregon.
She previously served as a Deputy Health Officer for Josephine County in Oregon. There, she helped inform the local community during the COVID-19 response.
The release states she has also worked overseas and delivered medical care in “resource limited settings.”
Miller clarified that Villona practiced and taught emergency medicine in Qatar, Pakistan, Haiti, New Zealand and Ghana.
Villona also has worked as an expedition physician on Arctic and Antarctic cruises, Miller said.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated with information about the salary for the position, the selection process, and about Villona’s experience working abroad.
This story was originally published December 5, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
