Williams - who has been at the department's helm for the past 14 months and in other leadership positions for 12 years - said he made the decision after learning he probably would be replaced by Huntsman anyway.

"I'd received reliable indications from people involved with the [Huntsman] transition that they are going different directions in the [Health Department] leadership. So I'm going to move on," said Williams.

Prior to his tenure as director, Williams, a pediatrician, served for 12 years as director of the Division of Community and Family Health Services and as a department deputy director.

He helped lead the department through numerous urgent public health matters, including the threat of West Nile Virus, flu vaccine shortages, anthrax letter threats and budget cuts.

"We sometimes joke at the department that managing hot topics is the thing we do best," Williams said. "We clearly have no shortage of experience in that area."

Williams also was involved in the planning and implementation of public health policies during the 2002 Winter Olympics. He oversaw the coordination of emergency medical services, infectious disease and bioterrorism monitoring, food and environmental inspections and health-related disaster preparedness.

He chaired "A Healthier You 2002," which was the Salt Lake Olympic Committee's health promotion project. Schools, colleges, companies and communities still follow the program's guidelines.

Other highlights during his career include: improving Utah's childhood immunization rates; implementing an expanded tobacco prevention and cessation program that resulted in reductions in tobacco use; developing a corps of nurses to better manage the medical needs of foster children; providing online access to the department's health data resources; and building a new clinic for children with disabilities.

"Scott has shown the skill, understanding and initiative to make great things happen in the Department of Health," said Gov. Olene Walker.

"He has a passion for protecting the health of Utahns, and Utahns are healthier because of his commitment."

Praising his fellow workers at the Health Department, Williams said he was "very proud of the things we've accomplished together."

Williams said he is considering a return to practicing medicine at the University of Utah's Department of Pediatrics. In the meantime, he plans to spend quality time with his family, snowboard with his three children and finish a fence he started five months ago.

chamilton@sltrib.com