Help Your Health Department Help You at #MACoCon

County Health Officers share best practices to maximize collaboration and efficiency with your health department, especially in times of crisis. 

The concurrent emergencies presented by COVID-19, monkeypox, opioids, and mental health needs has triggered a seismic increase in reliance on local health departments to keep the public both informed and safe. The urgency of these issues often overshadows all the other vital functions of these indispensable institutions that must remain intact in the midst of a crisis.

Health departments are a robust resource for citizens from clinics for routine care and addiction treatment to elder care services and safety classes for new parents. These teams of physicians, nurses, social workers, sanitarians, counselors, therapists and other allied health and support personnel are ready to help. For this sessions health officers are ready to guide you through the most effective ways to leverage their critical resources to keep your county healthy and thriving before, during, and after the next crisis.

Title: Help Your Health Department Help You

Description: If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that response time is critical. Promptly disseminating crucial information can save lives, but what door those answers lie behind can be a tricky question. In this session, experienced Health Officers will provide a “Who, What, When, and Where” rundown of how a local health department works within the real-life context of today’s most pressing public health issues. Plus, they will share best practices to bolster collaboration and communication, from unexpected rapid response scenarios to routine procedures within existing programs. Attendees will even walk away with a reference tool to keep in the office. 

Speakers: 

  • Dr. Gregory Branch, Health Officer – Baltimore County
  • Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman, MACHO President, Health Officer – Anne Arundel
  • Dr. Barbara Brookmyer, Health Officer – Frederick County

Moderator: The Honorable Karen Lewis Young, Maryland House of Delegates  

Date/Time: Wednesday, January 4, 2023; 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

MACo’s Winter Conference, “Hit the Ground Running,” will be held at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Hotel in Cambridge, MD from January 4-6, 2023 (with a pre-conference orientation for new county officials on January 3).

Learn more about MACo’s Winter Conference: