State Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger announced today that he’s resigning effective at the end of the day. Deputy Commissioner Dan Pollock will serve as interim leader of the department until a permanent replacement is appointed by Governor Dayton. Ehlinger says it has been an honor to serve the people of Minnesota. No reason was given for the resignation, but the department has been under scrutiny after it was recently reported in the Star Tribune that there had been shortcomings within the department regarding cases and investigations of elderly care in nursing facilities. Democratic Representative Paul Thissen said today that Ehlinger has done “amazing work for the state of Minnesota,” but called the recent allegations “deeply troubling and does not live up to the best standards of what our state government and what the people of Minnesota should expect from us.” Ehlinger had served as commissioner since January 2011.