FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 4, 2004
DHSS announces top management changes
Lombardo moves to Deputy Commissioner, Mandsager assumes Public Health Director post, Farnham named Public Assistance Director
(Juneau, Alaska) - The Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) announces several leadership changes, including a new Deputy Commissioner and new directors in Public Assistance and Public Health. Anthony Lombardo, previously Director of Public Assistance, moved into the position of Deputy Commissioner June 1, following the retirement of Bob Labbe in May. Also effective June 1 is the appointment of Dr. Richard Mandsager as Director of Public Health. Kathryn (Kitty) Farnham has been named Director of Public Assistance, filling the vacancy created by Lombardo’s appointment to Deputy Commissioner.
“The appointment of Tony Lombardo to Deputy Commissioner allows for a seamless transition in the leadership of the department, both within the Commissioner’s Office and the Division of Public Assistance,” said DHSS Commissioner Joel Gilbertson. “His successful leadership in Public Assistance makes him well-suited for this new role.”
Lombardo has served as Public Assistance Director since February 2003. Under his direction, the division streamlined operations under the Quality Initiative, which helped implement outcome-based planning and facilitate two-way communication within the division. He was also instrumental in instituting performance-based contracting, which provides incentives for contractors to meet federally mandated requirements for funding.
“I am pleased that Dr. Richard Mandsager has joined our management team as Director of Public Health,” said Gilbertson. “He has exceptional qualifications and experience both as a medical administrator and as a practicing physician.”
Mandsager comes to the DHSS Division of Public Health from the Pediatric Service Center of Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC) in Anchorage, where he was Medical Director. In that position, he achieved more than a 90-percent immunization rate for children. He has served as a consultant building positive working relationships between pediatricians and family medicine doctors in both urban areas and villages. His prior experience includes serving as Staff Pediatrician for Southcentral Foundation, where he revised and improved protocols for medical care to children and adolescents.
“As our new Director of Public Assistance, Kitty Farnham
is well-qualified to continue the Quality Initiatives work begun
by Tony Lombardo,” said Gilbertson. “I’m confident
she’ll also identify new areas of opportunity to help move
the division and our department forward.” Farnham has most
recently served as Director of the Division of Business Partnerships
in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and as Executive
Director of the Alaska Workforce Investment Board. She led both
the division and the private/public board efforts in fulfilling
their accountabilities for oversight of state and federal workforce
investment programs, with direct accountability for workforce development
programs. Farnham also completed a departmental restructuring to
create a new division to implement statewide accountabilities.
--30--
For more information, please contact
Sherry Hill
Special Assistant to the Commissioner
Juneau Office: (907) 465-1618
Anchorage: (907) 269-7800
Cell: (907) 321-2838
Email: sherry_hill@health.state.ak.usJeff Kasper
Project Director
Juneau Office: (907) 465-8194
Email: jeff_kasper@health.state.ak.us
Follow Alaska_DHSS on Twitter
Connect with us on Facebook