County Executive Steve Schuh Thanks County Council for Consenting to Health Officer Recommendation

Annapolis, MD (December 15, 2014) – County Executive Steve Schuh tonight thanked the Anne Arundel County Council for unanimously consenting to his recommendation for the appointment of Dr. Jinlene Chan as permanent Anne Arundel County Health Officer.

“As our county works to address the public health crisis of heroin and opioid addiction, we will be fortunate to have Dr. Jinlene Chan as our permanent Health Officer,” said Schuh. 

“I thank Council President Jerry Walker and the rest of the Council for acting on this important recommendation in such a swift manner as we work to make our county the best place to live, work, and start a business in Maryland.”

In accordance with state law, the County Executive nominates a County Health Officer with the Council's consent.  The nominee is then appointed as the Health Officer by Maryland’s Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Dr. Jinlene Chan has been Acting Anne Arundel County Health Officer since December 2012. Prior to that, she served as the Deputy Health Officer for the Healthy Families Administration.  She has a Masters of Public Health (MPH) from Johns Hopkins University, and Doctorate of Medicine (MD) from the University of South Carolina.

County Executive Steve Schuh was sworn in as 9th Anne Arundel County Executive on December 1st.