Dutchess County's Health Commissioner Resigns

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — The Dutchess County's commissioner of health has resigned.

County Executive Marc Molinaro announced Wednesday that Dr. Anil Vaidian will step down as head of the Department of Behavioral and Community Health effective Sept. 10.

He has been in the position more than four years, joining in April 2017.

Prior to that, Vaidian spent more than 13 years of public health service at the Rockland County Department of Health and Westchester County's division of disease control.

Molinaro said that Dutchess County is a healthier community because of Vaidian.

"Faced with a pandemic the likes of which we've never seen in our lifetimes," he said, "Dr. Vaidian oversaw our county health department through its most challenging times in memory, using his infectious disease expertise to inform and educate our residents while formulating public health guidance to protect them."

The county will begin an executive search for an individual with the necessary combination of management skills and clinical knowledge to serve as commissioner. An acting commissioner from within the department will be appointed in September, pending approval by the state Department of Health.

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