November 3, 2006

Suozzi Announces Nationwide Search for New Health Commissioner

A nationwide search will begin immediately to fill the post of Health Commissioner for Nassau County, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi announced today.

Dr. David Ackman, Nassau County’s current Health Commissioner, has decided not to seek reappointment when his current six-year term expires early next year.

“Dr. Ackman has done an outstanding job, leading the way on a number of important public health initiatives,” said Suozzi. “We will miss his expertise and the dedication he brought to helping improve the public health each day. He oversaw one of the largest flu immunization programs in the state for those most at risk – including the elderly. In addition, Dr. Ackman helped the county increase its readiness to deal with threats to public health from pandemics and post 9-11 emergencies.”

Dr. Ackman informed the County Executive of his decision not to seek reappointment in a letter dated today. In that letter, which was also addressed to Norma Henriksen, Chair of the Nassau County Board of Health, Dr. Ackman said it had been his “great honor to serve as Commissioner for such a fine department, filled with skilled and dedicated professionals. They have risen to occasions too numerous to describe here and have taken on each new responsibility and program with the same intelligence and diligence with which they handle their usual tasks.

“I want to thank the County Executive for his support these past five years to serve the public health needs of the residents of Nassau County,” Dr. Ackman said.

The Health Commissioner oversees a staff of approximately 370 professionals and support personnel.

The department protects the health of county residents through direct services and community partnerships in many areas, including maintaining the safety of the county's water system, monitoring food safety in restaurants, oversees tobacco sales to minors and controls infectious diseases in the county including investigating approximately 23,000 laboratory reports of 71 communicable diseases. The county health department also provides essential support to all programs, including maternal and child care services, Early Intervention and preschool programs as well as serves over 12,000 in the Women, Infants and Children program.