Allegheny County Board of Health Approves Dr. Iulia Vann to Lead Allegheny County Health Department
PITTSBURGH – Today the Board of Health approved Dr. Iulia Vann to be the next Director of the Allegheny County Health Department in a 7 – 0 vote. The Allegheny County Health Department's (ACHD) mission is to protect, promote, and preserve the health and well-being of the more than 1.2 million people who call Allegheny County home. ACHD offers clinical services including immunization, dentistry, and sexual health resources, as well as programs designed to promote a safer, healthier community for all by focusing on air quality, lead exposure, and other environmental factors that impact residents.
Dr. Iulia Vann, who currently serves as the Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health Director, holds both a Medical Degree and Master’s Degree in Public Health. As the Director of the Public Health Department in Guilford, North Carolina, Dr. Vann is responsible for managing more than 450 fulltime employees and a budget of $55 million. Under Dr. Vann’s leadership, the department was recognized as the 2021 North Carolina Public Health Association Health Department of the Year, specifically for its creative response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its determination to keep residents safe. Dr. Vann also currently serves as the President of the North Carolina Public Health Association.
County Executive Innamorato said: “Dr. Vann’s passion for protecting public health and track record of taking on big challenges is exactly why we want her to be the next Director of the Allegheny County Health Department. I want to thank the Search Committee and the Board of Health for committing itself to a very thorough and broad search that resulted in selecting Dr. Vann, and dozens of community leaders who contributed input and thoughts to the search process to help shape our shared vision for this critically important position.”
Dr. Iulia Vann said: “It is an honor to be selected to lead the Allegheny County Health Department. I’m no stranger to complex and multi-faceted public health challenges, and I’m so proud of what we accomplished in Guilford County during my tenure. I look forward to bringing the creativity and energy that defined my time in North Carolina to Allegheny County to help protect public health for the residents of Western Pennsylvania and ensure we are building communities where everyone is safe and thriving.”
Dr. Edie Shapira, Board of Health Member and Co-Chair of the Search Committee for the ACHD Director said: “We conducted a long and thorough national search for the next Director of the Allegheny County Health Department and Dr. Vann was our top choice among many excellent candidates. We thank County Executive Innamorato and her team for working closely with the Committee to select this outstanding choice. And a special thank you to fellow Search Committee Co-Chair Jennifer Rafanan Kennedy and everyone involved in the search who put in countless hours gathering community input and interviewing potential candidates. Your time and expertise are deeply appreciated.”
Dr. Lee Harrison, Chair of the Board of Health and Member of the Search Committee for the ACHD Director said: “It has been a time of transition for the Allegheny County Health Department and we’re very grateful for all of the staff who have continued to serve to protect public health since the departure of Dr. Bogen last year. The Board of Health is grateful to Patrick Dowd for his outstanding leadership as Interim Director for the last year and a half and to Dr. Barbara Nightingale for agreeing to serve as Interim Director until Dr. Vann’s arrival.”
Acting Director Patrick Dowd will continue to serve in that role until his departure on July 9. At that time, Dr. Barbara Nightingale will serve for a brief time until Dr. Vann begins serving as Director later this summer.
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