Rockland Health Commissioner Is Resigning, County Starts Search

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — Rockland County Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert is stepping down at the end of the month.

Dr. Ruppert has served as Commissioner of Health through a tumultuous decade, grappling with a an 11-month outbreak of measles, the COVID-19 pandemic (Rockland was one of the hardest-hit counties in New York), the first case of paralytic polio in the United States in years, and Rockland's low vaccination rate.

"Our department of health has been battle-tested time and time again," said County Executive Ed Day said at a news conference announcing the polio case July 21, 2022.

She was 54 when she was appointed in 2013 by then-County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef. She declined a request from Patch Friday for an interview about her retirement.

"I wish Dr. Ruppert the best in this next chapter and sincerely thank her for all she’s done for the people of Rockland," Day said in a statement. "The work of our Health Department during COVID-19 and our measles outbreak was nothing short of extraordinary and I thank Dr. Ruppert and her team for their tireless dedication."

In addition to announcing her resignation, he announced that a search committee has been formed to review resumes and interview candidates to replace her.

Plans are to name an Interim Commissioner while the search process takes place.

The Search Committee members will be:

• CEO of Bon Secours Charity Health System, Dr. Mary Leahy
• Nyack Hospital President & CEO, Dr. Mark Geller
• RCDOH Director of Patient Care Services, Julie Krauchuk
• Commissioner of Human Rights, Spencer Chiimbwe
• Chief of Staff to County Executive Ed Day, John Lyon

For more information about the Health Commissioner position visit the website.