As a public health professional, Rosalind Penney would tell anyone else in her position to put her health first.

And so she decided to take her own advice.

Penney, who started her job as the shared public health director for Ouray and San Miguel counties on Aug. 5, will be leaving the position on Nov. 1. Citing medical issues, she tended her resignation on Sept. 23, and gave six weeks notice.

“I wanted to let them know as soon as I knew it was the right thing to do,” she said. She cha...