Goshen, N.Y. – Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus announced on Thursday that Dr. Irina Gelman, DPM, MPH, Ph.Dc has been named the County’s next Commissioner of Health.
“The County is fortunate to have someone as talented as Dr. Gelman to lead our Health Department,” Neuhaus said. “Dr. Gelman’s experience coupled with her passion for public service make her a great perfect fit for this important position. Drawing from her extensive experience, Dr. Gelman will bring fresh and innovative programs to the County’s residents. I’m confident that she will be an outstanding Commissioner.”
Added Chairman of the Legislature Steve Brescia: “Dr. Gelman is the right choice at the right time for the Health Department, which provides many important services to our residents. I’m impressed with her energy and I think Dr. Gelman has the perfect temperament to work with her talented staff and the community. I’m certain that Dr. Gelman will do a wonderful job for us.”
Dr. Gelman previously served as Fulton County’s (N.Y.) Director of Public Health. Her responsibilities included providing direct leadership and legal health authority for local public health policies addressing the healthcare needs of Fulton County’s residents. Dr. Gelman’s expertise centers on community/population health.
Dr. Gelman, a native of Moldova, an Eastern European country and former Soviet Republic, is fluent in Spanish, Russian and Yiddish. She moved to the United States with her family at the age of nine and was raised in Brooklyn.
Dr. Gelman received her Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine in 2010 and completed her residency at Coney Island Hospital in 2014. She earned her Masters of Public Health in 2012 from Nova Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Lauderdale, Fl. Dr. Gelman completed her undergraduate degree in Science from Pace University in New York City in 2004. Currently, she is working on her Ph.D at Walden University. With a concentration on community health, Dr. Gelman’s dissertation will focus on telehealth initiatives in rural areas.
“It is an honor and a privilege to lead Orange County’s Health Department,” Dr. Gelman said. “I’m looking forward to working with this great team to continue efforts to strengthen public health outreach for the entire Orange County community.”
Dr. Gelman and her family will relocate to Orange County from Johnstown, N.Y. Her appointment was approved by the New York State Department of Health and is pending Legislative approval. Dr. Gelman will start in mid-July.
For more information, contact Justin Rodriguez, Assistant to the County Executive for Communications and Media Relations at 845.291.3255 or jrodriguez@orangecountygov.com.
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