Baltimore, MD (July 23, 2009) - With the goal of maximizing the reach and effectiveness of key public health services for Maryland families, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) announced today the integration of two administrations to form the newly created Infectious Disease and Environmental Health Administration (IDEHA). IDEHA incorporates the public health services of the Maryland AIDS Administration and the Community Health Administration into a consolidated division under the guidance of former AIDS Administration director, Heather Hauck, MSW.
 
"This reorganization will strengthen the state's ability to control and prevent all infectious diseases and enhance our response to environmental health issues," said John M. Colmers, DHMH Secretary. "With the improvement in how we work with local health officers and the reorganization of leadership, we anticipate these changes will positively impact public health services for all Marylanders." 

The goal of IDEHA is to strengthen Maryland's capacity to protect the public from local, national and global threats from infectious diseases and environmental health hazards by integrating the skills and capacities of existing programs. By combining and coordinating the efforts of infectious disease prevention and care services, epidemiology, outbreak response, environmental health, food and consumer protection, the Department can more rapidly follow and respond to trends with coordinated actions.

"We're excited to have a public health professional like Heather Hauck, with her vast experience and accomplishments, leading the integration of these related efforts to protect public health," says Frances Phillips, Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services. "This compilation of services strengthens our capacity to monitor and enhance the quality of health care services we provide to individuals and communities."