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Sullivan County public health names epidemiology supervisor, reopens medical-director RFP and pursues maternal-child policy workgroup
Summary
Public health staff announced the hiring of Dr. Demba Keita as epidemiology supervisor, said the county will reopen the medical director RFP, and described plans to apply for a NACCHO maternal and child health policy improvement committee and to use rural health network funds.
Sullivan County public health leaders told the Health and Human Services committee they hired a new epidemiology supervisor, will reissue a request for proposals for a medical director, and are pursuing opportunities to join state and national policy and collaboration efforts.
Jess Moore, identified herself at the meeting as a member of the county public-health team, and said Dr. Demba Keita — described as a medical doctor with a Ph.D. and prior rabies experience in Dutchess County — started as epidemiology supervisor the previous Monday. Moore said Keita will review rabies vaccination and exposure-treatment practices and help the department assess whether current vaccination/treatment patterns are appropriate and cost-effective.
Moore said the county will reopen the RFP for a medical director and that staff had discussed a short-term interim arrangement with a current county physician (Dr. Alteric) so the department would not go without medical oversight while the procurement is completed.
Public-health staff said they plan to apply to participate in a maternal and child health policy improvement committee convened by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). Moore described this as a non‑funded work group intended to allow programs such as the county's Healthy Families program to share practice and policy ideas with other New York State programs.
The department confirmed receipt of rural health network funding for nine months and said staff will review contract terms and identify allowable uses. Moore said county staff are in conversation with Garnet Health about rural health clinic planning and noted the potential for grants and partnerships to shape service delivery.
Public-health staff also briefed the committee on ongoing rabies and avian influenza outreach. Officials said no humans or animals had tested positive in Sullivan County as of the most recent update; staff reported multiple social-media posts and a press release advising residents to avoid contact with sick or dead wild fowl and to report clusters of bird deaths to the state Department of Environmental Conservation form referenced in the county release.
Quotes in this article come from staff remarks recorded in the committee transcript.
