- Lake County News reports
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Arton appointed Lake County’s new Health Services director
At Tuesday’s board meeting, Anthony Arton was formally appointed to the job.
In a Tuesday statement, the County Administrative Office said Arton is “a seasoned leader, with more than two decades of experience in development and oversight of public health, emergency management and community engagement programs.”
In the county’s statement, Arton is quoted as saying he is looking forward to working closely with the Health Services team, community partners and Public Health Officer Noemi Dr. Doohan, “to promote the best possible health outcomes in Lake County.”
He added, “Dr. Doohan has done outstanding work to establish strategic relationships locally and at the state level in recent months, and I am confident we will build on those successes. Effective health programs must serve all residents, and maintaining a connection with our richly diverse communities is essential to that work. I am truly excited to be here, and for the opportunity to serve Lake County.”
Arton most recently served as public health director for Coos County, Oregon, since October 2020.
Before serving in Oregon, Arton was public health director and emergency planner for Missouri’s Johnson County.
Earlier jobs included working with students in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in Texas, at the University of Central Missouri and at Polk State College. He also was a legislative intern at the Missouri State Capitol, according to his LinkedIn page.
The county said his diverse professional background also includes training in firefighting, management of Hazardous Materials and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, compliance.
Arton has effectively planned and implemented strategic programs and capital improvement projects, and written emergency preparedness plans, while successfully managing funds from a variety of state and federal sources, the county reported.
"With a professional and educational background involving emergency services and healthcare, Director Arton is best prepared to forge strong relationships needed to excel as Health Services Director in Lake County," said Board of Supervisors Chair Bruno Sabatier. “Lake County's health metrics avail us of many opportunities, and Director Arton brings Public Health experience to enable change in our health outcomes. We look forward to supporting his efforts."
Arton holds master and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Central Missouri, and graduated near the top of his class as the prestigious Walter Hicklin Government and Public Service Scholar. Furthering his education on a continual basis is a priority for Arton.
He succeeds Jonathan Portney, who the board terminated in September following a tumultuous tenure marked by no confidence letters, a staff exodus and disagreements with other department heads, including then-Sheriff Brian Martin.