JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri’s top health official, a licensed obstetrician/gynecologist, is the face of the state’s effort to end abortions at the only clinic in Missouri that performs them.

Dr. Randall Williams, a holdover from former Gov. Eric Greitens’ administration, is the expert Gov. Mike Parson leans on to explain why officials believe Planned Parenthood should be barred from terminating pregnancies at its Central West End clinic.

The abortion issue has put Williams, director of the state’s Department of Health and Senior Services, front and center in a debate that coincides with Parson, a Republican, signing legislation last month that will prohibit women from terminating their pregnancies after eight weeks, except in medical emergencies.

Williams anticipated criticism when he took the job as state health director in 2017, he said in response to written questions from the Post-Dispatch.

“Our job is to ensure the nearly 4,000 licensed health facilities are complying with current Missouri laws and regulations,” Williams said. “As for feedback, both positive and negative, I try to use it to help make us better at serving the people of Missouri.