John Gerrard will step down as Queensland's Chief Health Officer next month, describing threats of violence as a low point of his three years in the role.
The 62-year-old, who took on the job after Jeannette Young's 15-year stint, will return to the Gold Coast University Hospital as an infectious disease physician.
Dr John Gerrard will return to the Gold Coast University Hospital as an infectious disease physician. (Four Corners)
In an interview with ABC News, Dr Gerrard said he was proud of his work steering Queensland through the COVID pandemic after the state's borders reopened on December 13, 2021 — his first day in the job.
He said threats of physical violence over his decisions about COVID-19 were "probably the lowest point in my time in this job".
"Someone threatened to break my legs and then break them again. That was terrible," Dr Gerrard said.
John Gerrard replaced Jeannette Young as chief health officer in November 2021. (ABC News: Michael Lloyd)
"People had such strong views with COVID. There were extreme views on both sides – from those people who thought we were doing too much, we were exaggerating, and those people who thought we weren't doing enough.
"It wasn't just a matter of steering a path in one direction or the other, there were extreme views across the range."
As he prepares to leave the role at the end of his three-year contract, Dr Gerrard said "I'd like to believe I've done the right thing".
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