DATE: April 9, 2019
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Jean M. Rousseau, County Administrative Officer
David Pomaville, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Retrospective Appointment of Deputy Public Health Officer
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Confirm appointment of Dr. Mercy Kagoda, retrospectively effective March 5, 2019, to the position of Deputy Public Health Officer pursuant to the Fresno County Charter, Sections 12 and 16, providing her with the authority to act on behalf of the County Health Officer in his/her absence.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will confirm Dr. Mercy Kagoda as Deputy Public Health Officer and allow her to act on behalf of the County Health Officer in his/her absence. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board choose not to confirm the appointment, the County would not have a full-time Deputy Public Health Officer.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department of Public Health Org 5620 FY 2018-19 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
Pursuant to Sections 12 and 16 of the Fresno County Charter, with your Board’s approval of the recommended action, the appointment of Dr. Mercy Kagoda to the position of Deputy Public Health Officer will be confirmed.
After a lengthy search and interviews with multiple candidates, the Department selected Dr. Kagoda as being the best-qualified to fill the vacant Deputy Public Health Officer position. Dr. Kagoda has her Doctorate in Medicine from Loma Linda University School of Medicine and a Master’s of Public Health in Population Medicine. She is Board Certified by the American Board of Preventative Medicine
Dr. Kagoda’s work experience includes work at a Federally Qualified Health Care Center and a large hospital. She has her certification as an HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) Specialist by the American College of Preventative Medicine.
Critical responsibilities of the Deputy Public Health Officer include:
• Performing necessary duties of the Health Officer in the absence or unavailability of the Health Officer.
• Assisting with planning and directing medical aspects of public health programs.
• Assisting with providing overall leadership and management direction for the Department in the enforcement of public health laws and regulations.
• Assisting in evaluating existing programs and initiating changes in programs.
• Assisting in acting as a consultant to professional staff members and members of the medical profession on problems concerning public health.
• Assisting in consulting the medical community in the diagnosis and investigation of suspected communicable disease; making personal investigations of some diseases including but not limited to examination, diagnosis, prescription and administration of treatment to certain patients with communicable diseases.
• Assisting with advising and making recommendations on matters relating to the quality and scope of medical services provided by the Department.
• Assisting in providing direction on and approving medical protocol for departmental programs and services.
• Assisting in training and supervising physicians who provide medical services to the public.
• Assisting with advising and consulting the preparation of program budgets and reviewing reports.
• Representing the County in meetings with the Board of Supervisors, commissions, committees, community and regulatory agencies, and other public groups.
• Collaborating with, and being the public health consultant for a variety of agencies at the local, regional, and state level.
• Discussing and facilitating the discussion of health issues with community members and groups.
• Assisting in ensuring that public health services comply with State, Federal, and local requirements, regulations, and policies.
• Assisting with analysis of public health data, policies, programs and procedures, and preparing reports and correspondence.
• Assisting in assuring the enforcement of applicable public health orders, ordinances and statutes.
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa