Dr. Karen Landers takes new role as Alabama’s Chief Medical Officer

ALABAMA (WHNT) — All through the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Karen Landers with the Alabama Division of Public Well being grew to become one of the crucial well-known faces within the state.

Landers, who has served because the Madison County Well being Officer, will likely be taking up a brand new function because the state’s Chief Medical Officer.

From her childhood in Knoxville, Tennessee, to Birmingham the place she went to medical college, Dr. Karen Landers has a profession riddled with accomplishments and fueled by a ardour that began because of her personal sickness when she was simply eight years outdated.

“I truly was fairly unwell. I had pneumonia, had a seizure and I used to be within the hospital for a number of days. In order that impressed me, I nonetheless keep in mind getting a chest X-ray pondering that I’d develop into a physician,” stated Dr. Landers.

Landers is a mom of two and a pediatrician. She has intensive coaching in Tuberculosis and an infection management that has led to a number of awards and brought her across the state, the nation, and the world within the identify of well being.

She has labored by Ebola, H1N1, Zika, however says COVID-19 happened at a time when she was in search of a change of tempo.

Landers stated, “I used to be going to retire in April however after this got here alongside, I assumed I’ve by no means abandoned my put up in a disaster and didn’t need to desert my put up in a disaster. I stayed on to attempt to do what I might to assist my division as a result of the mission of the ADPH is to guard and promote the well being of the residents of Alabama.”

She grew to become one of many faces and voices of Alabama’s ongoing battle in opposition to the pandemic. She joked that she’s bored with seeing herself on tv however along with her profession, is aware of the significance of the work being executed even within the face of intense criticism.

“Acknowledge that on the finish of the day with that criticism comes development, additionally empathy and understanding of the place persons are. I’ve had some fairly unhealthy issues stated to me throughout this pandemic,” Landers stated.

The well-known physician will proceed to work from each her Montgomery and Shoals places of work, serving in an advisory function to Dr. Scott Harris, Alabama’s State Well being Officer, whereas additionally accountable for overseeing the state’s dwelling well being program and household well being companies.