SAN FRANCISCO - April 9, 2012 -- The Board of Directors of Lyon-Martin Health Services announced today that Dawn Harbatkin, MD is stepping down as Medical Director, and a search will begin immediately for a new Medical Director for the community health clinic.

Dawn Harbatkin joined Lyon-Martin as the Medical Director in 2006 and served jointly as Executive Director from 2006 to 2008. Since July 2011, she has again performed dual roles, as both the Medical Director and the Interim Executive Director. After a careful review of various factors, the Board of Directors affirmed that Lyon-Martin is in a position where it is financially feasible, and operationally important, to once again separate these roles.

"While I am proud of my accomplishments as Medical Director", said Harbatkin, "I am eager to turn my entire focus to my role as Interim Executive Director. We still have a lot of work to do in order to secure the future of this clinic. I know I speak for our entire staff and Board when I say that our commitment to our clients and to save Lyon-Martin has not wavered."

"We are extremely fortunate to benefit from Dawn's leadership," said Marj Plumb, the Chair of Lyon-Martin's Board of Directors. "Her successes as Medical Director have been inspiring to the entire Lyon-Martin family. That she is relinquishing her Medical Director role in order to stay focused on agency administration is both in line with her own growth as a leader, and invaluable for Lyon-Martin."

Harbatkin will continue to perform both roles until a new Medical Director is named.