Maine’s top disease tracker resigns

The man who has led the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention for more than a year will resign his post for a private-sector job.

Kenneth Albert, the agency’s director, resigned effective May 20, according to Maine CDC spokesman John Martins. He said the Maine Department of Health and Human Services is “working on a transition plan.”

Albert, a nurse and lawyer, brought some stability to the Maine CDC after being appointed to replace Dr. Sheila Pinette in 2015. She was a key figure in a whistleblower lawsuit settled by the state last year for $142,000.

Before his appointment, Albert served as director of DHHS’ Division of Licensing and Regulatory Services, which oversees health care facility licensing and the state’s medical marijuana program.

Michael Shepherd

About Michael Shepherd

Michael Shepherd joined the Bangor Daily News in 2015 after covering state, federal and local issues for the Kennebec Journal for three years. He's a Hallowell native who now lives in Gardiner. He graduated from the University of Maine in 2012 and is a graduate student at the University of Southern Maine's Muskie School of Public Service.