Committee approves new health director
The Putnam County Legislature’s Personnel Committee on Feb. 13 approved resolutions reclassifying the health commissioner position to public health director and naming an executive at a managed care organization to fill the role.
Paul Eldridge, Putnam’s personnel officer, said a public health director led the health department before Dr. Sherita Amler became the first health commissioner in 2004. Finding a replacement for Dr. Michael Neisheiwat, who announced in February 2023 that he planned to retire as commissioner, has been difficult, said Eldridge.
“We had a very good candidate, but unfortunately the person decided to back out,” he said on Feb. 13.
The committee approved hiring Rian Rodrigez, a Brewster resident and director of clinical quality for Healthfirst, as public health director, a position that does not require a medical degree. Rodriguez has a master’s degree in public health in epidemiology from the New York Medical College and a bachelor’s degree in history and sociology from Stony Brook University.
His confirmation will be voted on by the full Legislature as early as its next meeting on March 4. Neisheiwat will remain as a medical consultant, a position required by the state so counties with a public health director can issue orders requiring a physician’s signature, said Eldridge.
