Kitsap Public Health Board appoints health officer; welcomes new board members

KITSAP COUNTY, WA — The Kitsap Public Health Board appointed Dr. Herbie Duber to serve as permanent health officer for Kitsap Public Health District at its Tuesday, Feb. 3 meeting.

The Health Board also welcomed two new board members: Dr. Amity Marriott, a nonelected Health Board member representing public health and healthcare, and Ed Stern, who was elected mayor of Poulsbo in 2025.

Dr. Duber named permanent health officer 

Under Washington state law, the local health officer is a medical doctor and public health expert tasked with controlling and preventing diseases, enforcing public health rules, and promoting public health. The health officer also serves as a key leader in the community, strengthening partnerships and championing strategies to create a safe and healthy Kitsap County for all.   

Dr. Herbie Duber

Dr. Duber was named  interim health officer for Kitsap Public Health District in September 2025. The Health District opened recruitment for a permanent health officer in December and received applications from across the nation.  

Christine Rolfes, Kitsap County commissioner and chair of the Kitsap Public Health Board, said Dr. Duber’s extensive experience as a physician and health officer made him an ideal fit for the position.  

“He is one of the most prominent and talented public health leaders in our state, and we are fortunate to have him serving our county in this way,” Rolfes said. 

Dr. Duber is a professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Washington and works as an attending physician at UW Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He served as Washington State Department of Health Regional Medical Officer for Northwest Washington from 2022 to 2025 and has supported other Washington counties as an interim health officer.  

Dr. Duber earned his medical degree from New York University and a Master's in Public Health from Harvard University. 

“I want to thank the board, all of the people who work at KPHD, and the community for your willingness to put trust and faith in me as your health officer,” Dr. Duber said. “I look forward to working with all of you.” 

New Health Board members 

Local OB/GYN physician Dr. Amity Mariott was among 20 Kitsap County residents who applied for the nonelected Public Health, Health Care Facilities and Providers position on the Health Board during an open application period in 2025. The Health Board nominated Dr. Marriott to the position, and she was formally appointed by the Kitsap Board of County Commissioners in January.  

Dr. Amity Marriott

Dr. Marriott is a practicing physician for Kitsap OB/GYN and has served two terms as Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology for St. Michael Medical Center in Silverdale. While completing her medical education at Dartmouth and Brown University, Dr. Marriott earned a Master of Public Health degree from Columbia University in 2011. Her local volunteer work includes teaching health education to middle school students.   

Mayor Ed Stern

Also joining the Health Board in 2026 is Poulsbo Mayor Ed Stern who replaced outgoing mayor Becky Erickson. Mayor Stern has lived in Poulsbo since 1986 and served seven consecutive terms on the Poulsbo City Council.  

The 10-member Health Board is composed of five elected officials (one county commissioner and elected officials from the cities of Bainbridge Island, Bremerton, Port Orchard and Poulsbo), representatives from the Port Gamble and Suquamish tribes, and three nonelected members representing consumers of public health, public health stakeholders, and public health and healthcare facilities and providers.  

Learn more at kitsappublichealth.org/board