For Immediate Release
October 17, 2005

Contact: Howard Sutter
(714) 834-2178

Orange County Health Officer Selected To Lead State’s Public Health Efforts

(Santa Ana) – Orange County Health Officer Mark B. Horton, M.D., MSPH, has been appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to the position of State Public Health Officer, effective November 7, 2005.

“Serving the people of Orange County has been an honor and a pleasure, and a truly enriching experience for me professionally,” Dr. Horton commented. “I have greatly appreciated the support of the Board of Supervisors, our Agency director Julie Poulson, and the wonderful staff and members of the community I’ve had the privilege to work with. I look forward to continuing to work with them as I face new challenges as State Public Health Officer.”

Dr. Horton has served as County Health Officer and Deputy Agency Director for Public Health Services with the Orange County Health Care Agency since September 1999. Before coming to Orange County, Dr. Horton had previously served as the Director of the Nebraska Department of Health.

“Dr. Horton is a visionary in the field of Public Health and this is an outstanding move for the State of California,” said Julie Poulson, Director of the Health Care Agency. “Dr. Horton has provided excellent leadership to the Health Care Agency over the past six years, a period during which we have faced the challenges of bioterrorism preparation, the arrival of West Nile Virus, threats posed by other emerging diseases and the continuance of efforts to expand health insurance coverage to our community’s children. He has been wonderful for Orange County and we wish him well in this new and exciting opportunity.”

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