Longtime Cincinnati Chief Health Officer Dr. O’dell Moreno Owens died Wednesday. He was 74 years old. He was only two weeks away from his 75th birthday. Many remember Owens as a pioneer and community giant. He made a career in public service. Among the many important positions he has held over the years, he has been Hamilton County Coroner, Cincinnati State President, and Medical Director of the Cincinnati Department of Health. Owens was a pioneer in medicine. He established the University of Cincinnati’s in vitro fertilization program and achieved Cincinnati’s first successful conception and delivery, as well as the first pregnancy from a frozen embryo. Owens graduated from Woodward High School. Proving some of his professors wrong, he went on to graduate school, earning a master’s degree from Yale University, and completing a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology at Harvard Medical School. “In ninth grade, a college counselor told me after I left Walnut Hills that I was too poor and too stupid to go to college,” Owens told WLWT in 2021. “Nobody should put you in a box. No, you should be disbarred.” Cincinnati City Manager Sheryl Long ordered all flags flown at half-mast in memory of Owens. Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval tweeted the following in response to today’s tragic news. Owens also served as president and CEO of Interact for Health for more than four years before retiring. The organization released a statement on Owens’ passing on Wednesday afternoon. “The staff and Board of Directors of Interact for Health are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. O’dell Owens, our former President and CEO. We extend our condolences to his wife Marchelle and children Christopher, Justin and Morgan. Dr. Owens has cared for our community from cradle to grave. He was a trailblazer, leader, friend and mentor to many. During his four and a half years at Interact for Health, the Dr. Owens has worked to improve access to health care through school-based health centers, reduce tobacco use, fight the opioid epidemic and improve health equity in the region. His contributions to the foundation were part of a long career to improve health in Greater Cincinnati. He will be deeply missed and his legacy will continue to inspire work for years to come.” In August last year, a mural by Dr Owens was dedicated to the CET building in the West End. In March, WLWT sat down with Owens for an episode of Let’s Talk Cincy to discuss Owens’ goal of being an agent of social change through medicine and education. (You can watch this conversation in the video player below.) Owens told Courtis Fuller during this conversation, “I’ve worked in the community, but I always wondered if I had done enough. Have I done enough? that I said “yes, you did. And it’s time to take care of O’dell.” “He retired in 2021. The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office released a statement on Dr. Owen’s death saying, “We are truly saddened to hear to speak about the sudden passing of Dr. Odell Owens. During his more than 5 years as coroner, he pursued his life’s mission to positively impact the lives of young people by encouraging them to stay in school , to pursue higher education and to make good social choices. The legacy within the Cincinnati community is indisputable and its impact will continue.” Owens’ daughter Morgan shared the following statement with WLWT’s Courtis Fuller: “My dad was everything to this world, his lifelong mission was to make a difference for me. He certainly did. He touched so many lives, Dad your legacy will live on. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers.” Senator Rob Portman (R) wrote on Twitter: “Jane and I are heartbroken to learn of the passing of our good friend Dr O’dell Owens. O’dell was a giant in the healthcare community of Cincinnati and he will be sorely missed.” Owens retired in 2021. This is a developing story and will be updated.
Longtime Cincinnati Chief Health Officer Dr. O’dell Moreno Owens died Wednesday. He was 74 years old.
He was only two weeks away from his 75th birthday.
Owens is considered by many to be a pioneer and community giant. He made a career in public service. Among the many important positions he has held over the years, he has been Hamilton County Coroner, Cincinnati State President, and Medical Director of the Cincinnati Department of Health.
Owens was a medical pioneer. He established the University of Cincinnati’s in vitro fertilization program and achieved Cincinnati’s first successful conception and delivery, as well as the first pregnancy from a frozen embryo.
Owens graduated from Woodward High School. Proving some of his professors wrong, he went on to graduate school, earning a master’s degree from Yale University, and completing a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology at Harvard Medical School.
“In ninth grade, a college counselor told me after I left Walnut Hills that I was too poor and too stupid to go to college,” Owens told WLWT in 2021. “Nobody should put you in a box. No, you should be removed.”
Cincinnati City Manager Sheryl Long ordered all flags flown at half-mast in remembrance of Owens.
This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, on their website.
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval tweeted the following in response to today’s tragic news.
This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, on their website.
Owens also served as President and CEO of Interact for Health for more than four years before retiring.
The organization released a statement on Owens’ passing on Wednesday afternoon.
“The staff and Board of Directors of Interact for Health are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. O’dell Owens, our former President and CEO. We extend our condolences to his wife Marchelle and children Christopher, Justin and Morgan.
Dr. Owens has cared for our community from cradle to grave. He was a pioneer, leader, friend and mentor to many. During his four and a half years at Interact for Health, Dr. Owens worked to improve access to health care through school health centers, reduce smoking, combat the epidemic of opioids and improve health equity in the region. His contributions to the foundation were part of a long career to improve health in Greater Cincinnati. He will be deeply missed and his legacy will continue to inspire work for years to come.”
In August last year, a mural by Dr Owens was dedicated to the CET building in the West End.
In March, WLWT sat down with Owens for an episode of Let’s Talk Cincy to discuss Owens’ goal of being an agent of social change through medicine and education.
(You can watch this conversation in the video player below.)
Owens told Courtis Fuller during this conversation, “I’ve worked in the community, but I always wondered if I’ve done enough. Have I done enough? Take care of O’dell.’ “
He retired in 2021.
The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office released a statement on Dr. Owen’s death saying: “We are truly saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Dr Odell Owens. During his more than 5 years as a coroner, he pursued his life’s mission to positively impact the lives of young people by encouraging them to stay in school, pursue higher education and pursue good social choices. His legacy within the Cincinnati community is unquestionable and his impact will continue.”
This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, on their website.
Owens’ daughter Morgan shared the following statement with WLWT’s Courtis Fuller, “My dad was everything. My family and I are lost. My dad gave so much to this world, his lifelong mission was to make a difference. He certainly did. He touched so many lives, dad your legacy will live on. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers.”
Senator Rob Portman (R) wrote on Twitter: “Jane and I are heartbroken to learn of the passing of our good friend Dr O’dell Owens. O’dell was a giant in the healthcare community of Cincinnati and he will be greatly missed.”
Owens retired in 2021.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
#Odell #Owens #longtime #Cincinnati #health #leader #dies