DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The director of the Iowa Board of Medicine has abruptly retired following a personnel investigation in which he says he was treated unfairly by state administrators. Mark Bowden announced his retirement on Monday morning, following the board’s decision to reinstate him to his position on Friday. He had been on paid leave during an investigation into unspecified allegations.

Bowden says state lawyers and staff at the Department of Public Health and Department of Administrative Services treated him in a “grossly unfair way” during the inquiry. He says the treatment “broke the trust and confidence I need” to stay at the agency, which he had led for 10 years.

The board is responsible for licensing physicians and acupuncturists and investigating claims of misconduct.