Stamford Mayor Announces New Health Director

From the City of Stamford:

STAMFORD, CT – Mayor David Martin recently introduced Jennifer Calder D.V.M., M.P.H., Ph.D., CHSV as the new Director of Health for the City of Stamford's Health Department. The Department has several divisions with more than ninety dedicated employees. Dr. Calder takes over for Interim Health Director David Knauf from Darien who served in that capacity after Anne Fountain, the City of Stamford Director of Health for more than five years, accepted a position in the private sector.

“Dr. Calder is the ideal person to lead the City of Stamford Health Department,” said Mayor Martin. “Because of her vast experience, Jennifer understands the challenges confronting the City of Stamford and the Health Department. She will work with the community and our community partners to continue to make Stamford a healthy place to live. I am impressed with her knowledge, character and professionalism and I am confident that she will be an excellent Director of Health.”

Jennifer Calder is an accomplished public health professional with an advanced level of education in public health. She has experience in both local and state department of health, academia, the private sector, and with an international government agency. She previously held the position of faculty member at New York Medical College (NYMC) and Columbia University in the Departments of Epidemiology & Community Health and Epidemiology.

Thaddeus Jankowski, the Director of Public Safety, Health and Welfare stated, “Dr. Calder brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Director of Health position. She has held positions in City and State Health Departments, has worked in the private sector and has directed Epidemiology programs and public health programs. Given her experience and skill set, Jennifer Calder is well prepared to deal with all issues confronting the City of Stamford Health Department. I look forward to working closely with her in providing for the most effective and efficient health programs for the health and safety of Stamford residents.”

Dr. Calder has conducted work in many areas of public health including vaccine preventable diseases, zoonotic and other communicable diseases, outbreak investigation, clinical and regulatory veterinary medicine, and lead surveillance. She worked on the NYC Bioterrorism Preparedness Plan during its inception and has designed epidemiological studies, surveys, and surveillance systems. In addition, she has conducted healthcare epidemiology and is experienced in molecular diagnostic methodologies, drafting statues, codes, rules and regulations, and is accomplished in testifying before state legislature. She was also the program Director for the Masters of Public Health (MPH) in Epidemiology at NYMC and was the head of the Tuskegee University’s MPH planning committee.

Other accomplishments of Dr. Calder include the development of a modern infection control program at Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center (TCCHCC) to adhere to current federal, state, city, and other national guidelines, which was successful in stopping tuberculosis (TB) transmission within the facility.

Image via Shutterstock.