February 9, 2011

Mangano Congratulates

Nassau County Department of Health Commissioner

Dr. Maria Torroella Carney

Mineola, NY - Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano is pleased to announce that Dr. Maria Torroella Carney, Commissioner of the Nassau County Department of Health (NCDOH), recently received the 2010 Public Health Professional of the Year award from the New York State Association of County Health Officials (NYSACHO). NYSACHO is a membership association representing 58 local health departments in New York State. NYSACHO is incorporated as not-for-profit, non-partisan charitable organization 501(C)(3) tax exempt status which serves as the voice of public health for 58 local health departments in their work to prevent disease and disability, promote health and safety, and protect residents from risks and threats to our water, food, air supplies, and other potential health hazards.

“Dr. Carney is most deserving of the recognition accorded to her by the New York State Association of County Health Officials,” said County Executive Mangano. “Dr. Carney exemplifies this award through the innovative approach she has brought to the Nassau County Department of Health over the past year as they faced several challenges.Within her department, Dr. Carney's leadership has allowed her staff to persevere through retirement incentives, and difficult economic times. Cross training, internal re-organization, and improvement in efficiencies are projects implemented by Dr. Carney that have made the Department of Health stronger.”

In serving her county, Dr. Carney's goal of bridging the gap between public health and medical providers/organizations has allowed for better communication in the Nassau medical community thus allowing for critical public health messages to reach the 1.3 million residents of Nassau County. With her passion for preventive medicine, Dr. Carney has created collaborations that include Nassau's largest hospitals, governmental agencies, and community based organizations. Over the past year, these collaborations have allowed for successful vaccinationclinicsduring the H1N1 pandemic, numerous educational forums for Nassau County residents, and professional conferences bringing attention to many important public health concerns.

Dr. Carney attended New York Medical College where she received her doctorate of medicine in 1992. At New York Medical College she served as President of the Student Body (Student Senate). After an internship at Georgetown University Medical Center, she completed a residency in Internal Medicine at what is now New York Presbyterian Hospital- Weill/Cornell Medical Center, one of the top ten hospitals in the nation. Dr. Carney went on to complete a two year research fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center receiving the Fellow of the Year award in 1998. Her research in her fellowship involved assessing decision making capacity. Dr. Carney holds an academic title of Clinical Assistant Professor of Geriatrics and Adult Development at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She has brought her interest in academics, clinical care, population-based health care, and community service to the position of Commissioner of the Nassau County Health Department.