Central Health named two finalists Tuesday in its search for a new CEO and plans to give the public a chance to meet both candidates next week.

The finalists are Mike Geeslin of Austin, who serves as executive director of the Texas Dental Association, and Vanetta Abdellatif of Portland, Oregon, who is executive director of integrated clinical services at the Multnomah County Health Department, according to Central Health, the public health district tasked to serve the health needs of uninsured and underinsured Travis County residents.

Geeslin and Abdellatif are vying to take the top executive role to fill the void created in October when previous CEO Patricia Young Brown announced she would leave Central Health. She has since become chief executive at Austin's Thinkery museum.

Central Health plans to hold two "meet the candidates" events: One for Geeslin on Monday, April 3, and another for Abdellatif on Thursday, April 6.

Both events are scheduled from 4:30-6 p.m. in the Central Health board room at the agency's office at 1111 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin.

The moderated meetings are open to the public, but Central Health is asking for questions to be submitted in advance before noon Friday. Questions can be sent by email to [email protected], according to the agency.

Central Health's board of managers will select the top candidate to take over as CEO. A search and vetting process has been underway since this past fall, when Central Health hired the executive recruitment firm B.E. Smith.

Larry Wallace, Central Health’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, has been serving as interim CEO until a permanent replacement is announced.