After an extensive, nationwide search that began more than a year ago, Scott V. Rankin, M.D., has been named Deputy Commissioner of Health, it was announced today by David M. Ackman, M.D., M.P.H., Commissioner of the Nassau County Department of Health. Dr Rankin's appointment has been confirmed by the Nassau County Board of Health...

For the last three years, Dr. Rankin worked for the Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC) as Physician-In-Charge of the Hempstead Health Center. He was also a co-instructor of a medical interviewing course at NUMC which was designed to improve the interviewing skills of doctors in training so that they will be better able to care for patients with varied socio-economic/ethnic backgrounds.

Previously, Dr. Rankin has worked in a variety of health care settings providing medical care to patients from all walks of life. As an attending physician at Maimonides Medical Center, he treated patients who were mostly immigrants while teaching medical school students and residents. He subsequently worked at Rikers Island serving detainees as the Chief Physician of the Communicable Disease unit and, later, as Deputy Medical Director.

"Dr. Rankin brings a wealth of medical and administrative experience to the position. His skill as an administrator and his experience in New York City and the county's health system make him an ideal candidate to help direct Nassau County Department of Health," Commissioner Ackman said.

Dr. Rankin has worked with the American Cancer Society to help organize Prostate Cancer Awareness Forums. He is the recipient of the Operation Get Ahead "Martin Luther King Community Service Award" and a Board Member of the 100 Black Men of Long Island and the Memorial Youth Outreach Council (MYOC).

He received his BA from the University of Pennsylvania and his M.D. from the University of Maryland. In 1990, he returned to New York to begin his internship at Long Island Jewish Hospital. In 1993, after completing his training, he was appointed Chief Resident at Queens Hospital Center, a position he served in for one year, and is a Diplomate, American Board of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Rankin, 40, is a native New Yorker. He lives in Freeport with this wife and two children.