WHEELING-OHIO COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT 

PRESS RELEASE 

INTERIM HEALTH OFFICER APPOINTED TO BOARD OF HEALTH

Tuesday, January 12, 2021 – The Wheeling-Ohio County Board of Health has appointed Thomas G. Wack, MD as Interim County Health Officer.  The Board of Health officially appointed Dr. Wack during their regular meeting on Tuesday, January 12, 2021.

Dr. Wack succeeds Dr. William C Mercer who officially left the position on December 31, 2020.  Dr. Mercer served as county health officer since 1998.  Dr. Wack will serve as interim health officer until a permanent replacement is selected.  Future plans related to the recruitment of a permanent health officer/medical director will be discussed at upcoming Board of Health meetings.

Dr. Wack is a graduate of Wheeling Jesuit College and West Virginia University School of Medicine.  Since 1977 Dr. Wack has practice medicine locally at the Oakwood Clinic Family Practice until retiring in 2012.  He is currently a preceptor for the Family Practice Residency Program at Wheeling Hospital. Dr. Wack began his affiliation with the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department in 1970 as a summer employee in the departments environmental program.  He most recently has been active with the department’s homeless outreach program, Project HOPE.  Dr. Wack joins a notable group of physicians who have served as health officer for both the City of Wheeling and Ohio County since 1869.