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Devlin to leave state health director's post
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Published: January 7, 2009
RALEIGH
North Carolina's state health director is leaving her job after eight years in office.
Leah Devlin told The News & Observer of Raleigh she decided to retire to get some balance back in her life. She will step down at the end of January, and said this week she has no fixed plans for another job.
During her tenure, Devlin lobbied to increase the state cigarette tax as a way to discourage smoking. The Legislature ultimately raised the tax from 5 cents a pack to 35 cents. She also sought more school nurses and prepared a response to any pandemic flu outbreak.
Devlin's office also focused on preventing chronic diseases and improving local health departments.
Devlin is a dentist who previously was Wake County health department director. She took over the state agency in 2001.
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