Here is an excerpt from today's press release -
Sherlita Amler
Dr. Sherlita Amler has been commissioner of health for Putnam County since 2004. In that capacity, she oversaw a department that dealt with the same issues she will focus on in her new job: public health, disease control, monitoring of restaurants and food vendors, and family health, among many other things.
"We did a nationwide search for a new health commissioner, but found the best person almost in our backyard," said Astorino. "This is a bonus because she knows the complexities of New York State law and most of the health services we provide are required by the state. In Dr. Amler, we will have a doctor-in-chief with a wide-range of expertise in public health issues and, in addition, is versed in emergency preparedness as it relates to Indian Point."
Astorino noted that under Dr. Amler's tenure, Putnam was rated first in "health outcomes" in New York in the 2011 survey from the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin.
Putnam County Executive Paul Eldridge said of Dr. Amler's Westchester appointment: "It is with mixed emotions that I received the news of Dr. Amler being selected as the Westchester County Commissioner of Health. On the one hand, I am extremely pleased and excited for her, but at the same time saddened that Putnam County will be losing such a talented, capable and caring individual as head of our Department of Health. Needless to say, she will be sorely missed, but it is also nice to know that she's right next door when we need to call on her for help and guidance."
Earlier in the day, Dr. Amler's appointment was confirmed by the county Board of Health.
"Rob Astorino and the Board of Health have given me the great privilege of leading the Department of Health," said Amler. "I look forward to joining this team and working creatively to ensure the conditions that make Westchester a healthy place to live, work and play.
Dr. Amler fills a position that has not had a permanent commissioner since Astorino took office. Dr. Cheryl Archbald, a deputy commissioner of Health, Division of Community Health, has been serving as acting commissioner and now will resume her previous duties and job title.
"I thank Dr. Archbald for the outstanding job she did running this important department," Astorino said.
Dr. Amler was first a registered nurse and then received her medical degree in 1996 from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She did her residency in pediatrics at Louisiana State University in New Orleans. She has special training in field epidemiology from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (for whom she worked from 2000-2004), all-hazard bioterrorism, radiation emergencies and public health. She also holds a master's degree in biology.
She is a clinical associate professor of pediatrics at New York Medical College's School of Medicine and a distinguished lecturer and senior fellow, Center for Disaster Medicine at New York Medical College's Institute of Public Health.
The Health Department works to promote public health, prevent the spread of disease and prolong healthy living for all Westchester residents. The department monitors health status to identify community health problems, diagnoses and investigates them and mobilizes community partnerships to find solutions. The department also enforces laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety, including the state and county sanitary codes and surveys and regulates air and water quality in Westchester. In addition, it funds programs that provide services to children with disabilities, ages zero to 5.
Its main office is located in New Rochelle, but it also has offices in White Plains, Yonkers, Port Chester and Mount Kisco. The department operates with a budget of $165.7 million, of which about half is funded through county tax dollars. More information on the myraid of services provided by the Health department is available on its Web site.
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