A search committee tasked with finding a new director for the Allegheny County Health Department could present a recommendation this fall, committee co-chair Edith Shapira, M.D., told the county Board of Health on Wednesday.

“We’ve received a large number of applications, some of which are from highly qualified individuals,” said Shapira, who also sits on the board. “We are conducting interviews, we are doing background checks. We are working very hard to find a good fit for this county.”

Dr. Karen Hacker left the post in July after six years with the health department to take a job as director of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. It is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, based in Atlanta.

Since then, the nine-member search committee co-chaired by Shapira and Heinz Endowments President Grant Oliphant has been working to find a replacement. National executive search firm Krauthamer & Associates, Inc. is assisting with the search.

Ronald A. Sugar, deputy director of administration, is serving as interim director. Sugar has worked for the health department since 2014 and is responsible for daily operations.

Health clinics have been overseen by Dr. Kristen J. Mertz, medical epidemiologist for the health department. She has worked for the health department since 2014.

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