2008 News

April 10, 2008

Health Department Director to Step Down

Eleanor Travers, MD, MHA, who has been the director of the Bucks County Health Department since November 2005, will be leaving county service, she announced in a letter to Commissioner Chairman Jim Cawley.  Her last day will be May 2. Today, Travers and Board of Health Chair Bill Mischke met with staff to apprise them.

“We thank Dr. Travers for her contributions to public health in the county, and wish her well in all future endeavors,” noted Cawley.  Under Travers’ watch, the county successfully ran its first pandemic flu drill to raise preparedness for citizens and launched the county’s digital health department, where residents can search food facility inspections online.

According to Chief Operating Officer David M. Sanko, an intensive search will be conducted for a replacement. “Because of the import of this position, we will make all efforts and use all available resources to find the best-qualified candidate.”

The Board of Health, comprised of volunteers from the community appointed by the commissioners, will conduct interviews and recommend a candidate for approval by the commissioners.

The Bucks County Health Department's mission is to provide organized community efforts aimed at the prevention of disease, the protection of people from hazards to their health and the promotion of healthy living.  With 160 employees and a $9.3 million budget, the health department is comprised of two main sections – the bureaus of personal health and environmental health. Personal health provides public health nursing, nutritional and health education services to residents throughout Bucks County.  Environmental health includes environmental sanitation and engineering, and is responsible for conducting all food facility inspections within the county.

For more information on the many services performed by the health department, click here.