Allegheny County Health Department marks 50 years
April 6, 2007The Tribune-Review
The Allegheny County Health Department on Thursday marked the 50th anniversary of its founding in 1957.
"Fifty years is a long time," Dr. Bruce Dixon, health department director, said yesterday. "Public health fits into almost every aspect of daily life. Collaboration is extremely important in getting things done."
Dixon spoke at The Hosanna House, a community center in Wilkinsburg, during an event marking the anniversary. Dr. Donald Burke, the dean of the University of Pittsburgh's graduate school of public health, and Stephen Thomas, the director of Pitt's center for minority health, also spoke.
Among the accomplishments of the past 50 years are helping to reduce infant mortality rates in the black community and eradicating polio. The health department is scheduled to open a public health laboratory this fall.
Some of the biggest challenges facing Allegheny County are preparing for a possible outbreak of avian bird flu, dealing with the effects of violence on families and how the city would react to a major terrorist attack, Dixon said.
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