The head of the North Country Children's Clinic in Watertown says he'll resign after Friday. A spokeswoman for Samaritan Medical Center, which is temporarily operating the clinic, said Dan Wasneechak submitted his resignation yesterday. She said he gave no reason for his decision.
Wasneechak has only been on the job since mid-August. Earlier this month, he announced the clinic would temporarily close because of financial troubles. But the state Health Department, Samaritan and the clinic quickly struck a deal to keep it open at least another month, with the hospital's funding and oversight.
The Samaritan spokeswoman said a consultant who's been working with the clinic on long-term financial planning is in line to become its interim director. Joey Marie Horton is Deputy Director of the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization, a Watertown nonprofit that works on health care issues. Horton had a previous leadership role with the Children's Clinic's school programs. The Samaritan spokeswoman said Horton will take the helm of the clinic as soon as plans can be finalized.