MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT SPRING 2004 ...

Jeb Bush
GOVERNOR
Toni Jennings
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
John O. Agwunobi, M.D. M.B.A.
SECRETARY, FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Bonita J. Sorensen, M.D. M.B.A.
DEPUTY STATE HEALTH OFFICER
Annie R. Neasman, R.N, M.S.
DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR HEALTH
S ENIOR
Lillian Rivera, R.N., M.S.N.
ADMINISTRATOR
Nancy Humbert, M.S.N., A.R.N.P.
DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR
Eleni D. Sfakianaki, M.D., M.S.P.H.
MEDICAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
JoAnne Kroesen, A.R.N.P., M.S.N., M.S.
C.H.N. CONSULTANT, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF ORGANIZATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
Denise West, R.D., L.D./N, .M.P.H.
DIRECTOR, WIC & NUTRITION
Sandra Smith, R.N., B.S.N.
ASSISTANT C.H.N. DIRECTOR, SPECIAL IMMUNIZATIONS PROGRAM
Morton Laitner, Esq.
CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL
Samir Elmir, P.E., M.S.
ADMINISTRATOR, OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Richard Strait, M.B.A.
PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR
Olga Connor, B.A.
DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION,
LEGISLATIVE & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
Marie-Carole Desrosiers, M.D.
DIRECTOR, TB CONTROL PROGRAM
Evelyn Ullah, B.S.N., M.S.W.
DIRECTOR, HIV/AIDS
Thomas Burns, M.P.H.
PROGRAM MANAGER, STD
Fermin Leguen, MD, MPH
DIRECTOR / EPIDEMIOLOGY & DISEASE CONTROL
Alicia Reyes-Perez, R.N., B.S.N.
REGISTERED NURSE CONSULTANT, DIRECTOR, SCHOOL HEALTH
PROGRAM
Maurice Darden
MANAGER, VITAL RECORDS
Onelia Fajardo, M.P.H., DR, B.A.
DIRECTOR, REFUGEE HEALTH ASSESSMENT PROGRAM
Paula Schimpf, M.S.N., A.R.N.P.
ASSISTANT CHN DIRECTOR, WOMEN’S HEALTH PROGRAM
Martha Hernandez, M.P.A., R.H.I.A., L.H.R.M.
SENIOR MANAGEMENT ANALYST / RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Lee Fletcher, M.H.S.A.
GENERAL SERVICES MANAGER
L EADERS
Geneva Riley
SENIOR PERSONNEL MANAGER, HUMAN RESOURCES
Message from our Administrator,
LILLIAN RIVERA, RN, MSN
It seems that December 2003 was just yesterday
when I was writing my column to wish you the
Season's Greetings and congratulate you for the
excellent year that was coming to an end. The first
quarter of the year is gone. They say time flies when
you enjoy what you do, and I believe that is true. We
are so immersed in doing well in all the things we do
that we barely realize how fast our hours go.
Beginning in 2004, with the organization and culmination
of the Step-Up, Florida event, we showcased
the many options that our residents and visitors have to live a healthier
lifestyle. The Miami-Dade County Health Department showed its validity in
mobilizing and inspiring our community to pursue healthier lifestyles. There
was great participation from the Miami-Dade County Public School students,
and even Sebastian, the University of Miami mascot participated by
Kayaking along the South Miami Senior High students.
There are many other interesting things going on. Senior Leaders are
attending professional training at the Department of Health in Tallahassee
to enhance their skills and to be able to provide more support to the staff.
March was designated as Nutrition Month and I would like to recognize
WIC and Nutrition Director, Denise West, and her exceptional staff that has
won the 2003 5 A Day National Excellence Award.
I would like also to commend our social workers for their hard work and
commitment to the many people they serve and help in Miami-Dade
County. Our social workers are a key component for the department's
functions and we are proud of their work and dedication.
We celebrated Black History through the organization, and enjoyed the
tour around the County that provided us with the history of the black community
and its many contributions to the Miami-Dade County community.
Our planning committee is actively preparing to welcome all of the
County Health Department Directors and Administrators to Miami where
their quarterly conference will be held. As part of the activities, we will be
having a farewell retirement dinner for Ms. Annie R. Neasman, RN, MS,
Deputy Secretary for Health/State Director of Public Health Nursing.
I want to mention also the recent celebration of the National Public
Health week and how proud we carry our compromise of promoting safe
and healthy lifestyles and preventing the spread of disease, as well as the
other things we do to keep our community healthy and safe.
March 30 was National Doctor's Day. Congratulations to all the doctors
that work in our Department for their dedication to public health and the
many physicians in our community that provide medical care through the
Volunteer Health Care Provider Program.
We have definitely engaged and are looking at the Malcolm Baldrige criteria
for performance excellence and we are taking active steps to train our
organization with the criteria.
We have many other events and challenges ahead, so I invite you all to
continue our journey of excellence because our community needs us and
we have vowed to do our best to keep Miami-Dade County healthy and
continue to work towards our vision.
2
HealthBeat