LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The county of Lake has hired several new key Public Health and Environmental Health staffers in the wake of retirements that took place at the end of 2017.
Health Services Director Denise Pomeroy said the hires include the new health officer, deputy health officer, Public Health nursing director and Environmental Health director.
The county’s new health officer is Dr. Sara Goldgraben, M.D., Pomeroy said.
The Board of Supervisors confirmed Goldgraben’s appointment at its Tuesday meeting.
Goldgraben succeeds Dr. Karen Tait, whose retirement took place at the end of last year, as Lake County News has reported.
Pomeroy said Dr. Goldgraben is board-certified in preventive medicine and public health, with a master’s degree in public health and business administration as well as a bachelor’s degree in engineering and biomedical engineering. She holds medical licensure in both New York and California, and moved to Lake County from Southern California.
Joining the county in the role of deputy health officer Dr. Erin Gustafson, M.D.
Pomeroy said Gustafson is board-certified in preventive medicine, and has a master’s in public health as well as a bachelor’s in biochemistry. She holds medical licensure in California, New York and South Carolina, and relocated to Lake County from New York.
Gustafson’s appointment also was confirmed by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
Pomeroy said the new Public Health nursing director is Carolyn Holladay.
Holladay has been a member of the Health Department since April 2013 and has worked in many different programs, including the foster children’s program, Children Health and Disability Program, immunization program and Maternal Child Health, Pomeroy said.
Pomeroy said Holladay was instrumental in supporting the medical shelters during the recent fires and has been a strong advocate of moving the Public Health Division into electronic records management.
Holladay holds an associate’s degree in liberal arts and Spanish, a Bachelor’s degree in nursing/psychology, is a licensed Registered Nurse and a Public Health Nurse, Pomeroy said.
Taking over as the new Environmental Health director is Jasjit “Jesse” Kang.
Kang comes to Lake County from Colusa County, and has more than 19 years of management and experience in the environmental health field, Pomeroy said.
Pomeroy said Kang holds a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from California State University, Sacramento and is certified as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist in California.
Kang succeeds longtime Environmental Health Director Ray Ruminski, who retired in December.
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County hires new Public Health, Environmental Health staffers
- Elizabeth Larson
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