Monouth Cty. appoints new health officer

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - The Monmouth County Regional Health Commission No. 1 (MCRHC) appointed a new health officer in January.

Sandra Van Sant, of Little Silver, was appointed to the position, which became available in December when Health Officer Sidney B. Johnson Jr. retired after 30 years with the commission.

As health officer, Van Sant will be responsible for public health duties and activities in the 24 Monmouth County municipalities serviced by MCRHC.

"Sandra has proven abilities to manage and communicate among people with diverse goals and viewpoints. She is a highly qualified individual with a broad range of experience in various professional capacities," according to a press release from the commission.

Van Sant brings 30 years of public health experience to the post, including as a nurse practitioner early in her career. For many years she was employed at the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) of Central Jersey, becoming program manager for child health and public health.

Prior to joining the commission, Van Sant was employed by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services

as an epidemiologist in the Communicable Disease Division. She holds a master's degree in public health as well as a master's degree in nursing.

"It's an exciting time," said Van Sant. "I look forward to working with our citizens and other Monmouth County health departments to improve public health in our community."

The MCRHC, now in its 73rd year, is the state's oldest and largest health commission and has grown to be one of the largest inter-municipal public health departments in New Jersey.

MCRHC provides required public health services such as restaurant, pool, camp, septic and well inspections; communicable disease reporting; flu and rabies vaccinations, as well as a variety of other services.

Organized in 1938, the membership of the MCRHC No. 1 consists of one delegate and one alternate delegate from each member town's local board of health. The member communities participating in the commission include Fair Haven, Little Silver, Red Bank, Rumson, Sea Bright, Shrewsbury, Tinton Falls, Holmdel and Keyport.

For more information, visit the Web site at www.mcrhc.org.