Editor's Note: This blog was updated to include additional information from a county press release issued Monday afternoon.
The Allegheny County Board of Health on Monday unanimously approved the nomination of Dr. Iulia Vann to serve as the next director of the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD).
Dr. Vann currently serves as the Public Health Director of the Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services in North Carolina. They hold both a medical degree and master’s degree in public health.
In their role in North Carolina, Dr. Vann is responsible for managing more than 450 full-time employees and a budget of $55 million. Under their leadership, the department was recognized as the 2021 North Carolina Public Health Association Health Department of the Year specifically for its creative response to the COVID pandemic and its determination to keep residents safe.
Dr. Vann also currently serves as the President of the North Carolina Public Health Association.
"Dr. Vann's passion for protecting public health and track record of taking on big challenges is exactly why we want her to be the next Director of the Allegheny County Health Department," Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato said in a statement. "I want to thank the Search Committee and the Board of Health for committing itself to a very thorough and broad search that resulted in selecting Dr. Vann, and dozens of community leaders who contributed input and thoughts to the search process to help shape our shared vision for this critically important position."
Dr. Vann said it was an honor to be selected to lead ACHD.
"I'm no stranger to complex and multi-faceted public health challenges, and I'm so proud of what we accomplished in Guilford County during my tenure," they added. "I look forward to bringing the creativity and energy that defined my time in North Carolina to Allegheny County to help protect public health for the residents of Western Pennsylvania and ensure we are building communities where everyone is safe and thriving."
Patrick Dowd will continue to serve in the role of interim director until his departure July 9. The county announced last week that Dowd was hired as the CEO of the Pittsburgh Environmental Charter School.
At that time, Dr. Barbara Nightingale, ACHD's deputy director of clinical services, will serve as the Interim until Dr. Vann begins later this summer.
“Air quality is one of our most pressing public health issues, and we look forward to meeting and working with Dr. Vann to create positive change for our region,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said.