2008 News
September 17, 2008
Commissioners Announce New Medical Director
An accomplished medical doctor with a public health background is the Board of Health’s unanimous choice for the county’s new Health Department director. Dr. David C. Damsker, originally from Pennsylvania, currently serves as the community health medical director for the Wake County, North Carolina Human Services department. He will assume his duties as medical director for Bucks County effective November 24, 2008.
“Dr. Damsker offers impressive background in communicable disease, epidemiology, bioterrorism and disaster preparedness, and community health, as well as solid personnel and budgetary management experience,” Commissioner Chairman Jim Cawley noted. “I welcome him to our team and look forward to continued success of our Health Department under his leadership.”
The Health Department’s new director adds to the Health and Human Services Division complement of managers. “This is such a vital position within the county’s structure,” noted Chief Operating Officer David Sanko. “Dr. Damsker is a knowledgeable, enthusiastic individual who is interested in the health, welfare and well-being of our residents.”
Damsker graduated with a Masters in Public Health in Health Systems Management from Tulane University, earning the distinction of “most outstanding MPH student.” His MD was earned from the Medical College of PA – Hahnemann School of Medicine (now Drexel University College of Medicine) in Philadelphia. Damsker began his higher education at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, cum laude.
“I am very excited to move back home, and to immediately begin making the health of Bucks County citizens the best it can be,” said Damsker. “I plan to improve on the already excellent reputation of the health department, and bring new, innovative ideas into practice here."
The Bucks County Health Department, with its 126 employees, is comprised of the bureaus of Public Health and Environmental Health. Public Health provides public health nursing, nutritional and health education services to residents in various sites throughout Bucks County. It places emphasis on the promotion of health and the prevention of disease within a design that includes awareness of values, attitudes, culture, language and life circumstances of individuals and groups. Environmental Health administers a comprehensive program concerned with environmental elements that may have an adverse effect on the health, safety and well being of the Bucks County population. It administers its program in the environmental sanitation division and the environmental engineering division, and responds to signed written environmental complaints.
The new health director will earn an annual salary of $165,000.