 Paul
Kuehnert, Executive
Director for of the
Kane County Health
Department, has
accepted a position
with the Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation,
the nation’s largest
philanthropy focused
exclusively on
health and health
care, as Senior
Program Officer and
Team Director of
their Public Health
Team. His last day
with Kane County
will be Friday, June
1, 2012.
Paul began working
for the Health
Department in June,
2006, and was
appointed by the
Board to serve as
Executive Director
beginning in June,
2007. Since then he
has provided
executive leadership
to three County
Departments: Health,
Animal Control and
the Office of
Emergency
Management. From the
spring of 2010 on he
has also had
responsibility for
the Office of
Community
Reinvestment.
“Paul’s passion for
public service and
improving the health
and well-being of
our residents is
limitless,” County
Board Chairman Karen
McConnaughay said.
“Throughout his time
with us he has
focused on improving
the effectiveness
and efficiency of
governmental
services, increasing
both governmental
and community
partnerships and
demonstrating the
impact of public
policy and systems
changes on the
health and quality
of life of Kane
residents.”
During Paul’s tenure
the Health
Department responded
to a number of a
public health
emergencies, such as
the TB outbreak
among the homeless
population (which
recently was
featured in the
CDC’s weekly MMWR);
the H1N1 pandemic;
and hepatitis A,
which resulted in
more than 2,000
gamma globulin shots
given to a
restaurant’s
patrons. Further,
the department was
able to secure
$500,000 in grant
from private
foundations; and the
Department has
integrated master
planning with the
Development and
Transportation
departments.
“Paul has made a
tremendous
contribution to Kane
County residents and
Kane County
government. I am
pleased that he will
have the opportunity
to share his wealth
of community health
knowledge and
expertise on a
national level
through this
opportunity with the
prestigious Robert
Wood Johnson
Foundation,”
McConnaughay said.
Effective June 2,
Barbara Jeffers will
become the Interim
Executive Director
for the Health
Department. Jeffers,
Assistant Director
for Administration,
has been with the
Health Department
for seven years. She
is responsible for
high level
administrative
functions including
budgeting, human
resources, labor
relations, and
facilities
management. Prior to
County Government,
Jeffers was employed
by the State of
Illinois for 14
years, her last
appointment being
the Director of
Training and
Development for the
Department of Human
Services. She has a
Masters of Public
Health degree from
the Northern
Illinois University
and a Bachelors of
Science Degree from
the University of
Wisconsin-Whitewater.
“Barb possesses a
unique set of skills
and attributes that
will be an asset to
the health
department during
this transitional
period,”
McConnaughay said.
To read the
announcement of
Kuehnert’s
appointment on the
RWJF website,
click here. |
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