Amid COVID-19 crisis, Beeson begins as MCPH Administrator

One can easily say it’s been a trial by fire for Montgomery County Public Health Administrator Samantha Beeson, having just started her duties March 23.

Beeson hasn’t been able to ease into her new position amid COVID-19.

“There were talks of COVID-19 when I applied, but no one predicted it would be what it is today,” Beeson said. “It’s been a learning curve for sure.”

Beeson, a Red Oak native, received a degree in early childhood from Metropolitan Community College and in September 2010, took a job at Montgomery County Public Health as the Parents as Teachers program facilitator.

“I did that home visiting program for three years. In July 2013, the office manager position opened here and I took that,” Beeson recalled. “I have done that for the past seven years and now I’m administrator.”

Beeson said she enjoys the variety of the position and the opportunity to meet new people.

“There is always something to learn. You never run out of things to keep you busy,” she added. “It is interesting.”

Keeping up with the ever-changing mandates, policies and briefings have been difficult over the past several weeks, and then passing along that information to others, Beeson said.

“We are in touch with the long-term care facilities day cares, businesses, other local partners … letting everyone know about those changes can be a lot and sometimes, challenging,” Beeson said. “You get information out to people in the morning and by the afternoon it has already changed.”

Regardless, Beeson finds her position rewarding and one she enjoys.

“It’s been a surreal experience and we aren’t done yet. You do all these emergency preparedness drills and attend all these meetings and you think you know the plan, and it goes right out the window.

In her free time, Sam likes to spend time with her husband, Ryan, stepsons, Tyler and AJ and daughter, Stella.

In addition to Beeson learning the ropes during a pandemic is Sumer Sandholm, MCPH Nurse, who started March 9.