Supervisors Friday named Nicole Blanchard of of Oneonta, as its new director of Public Health.
Dr. Blanchard is expected to start about June 1; the state must approve all Public Health directors.
She comes to Schoharie County from New Vision.
Dr. Blanchard replaces Amy Gildemeister, who resigned in February to take a job with the state Department of Health after supervisors refused to reappoint her—against the recommendations of the County Board of Health.
Since then, Cobleskill Bassett doctor Susan Franko has been serving as interim Public Health director.
Supervisors appointed Dr. Blanchard after interviewing her in executive session Friday; she’ll be paid $90,970.
Roy Korn, president of the Schoharie County Board of Health, said they look forward to working with Dr. Blanchard.
“We are pleased to find a candidate with the training and experience that Dr. Blanchard brings to our county and look forward to her leading the department,” Dr. Korn said.
Dr. Blanchard received her BS, Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Public Health from Walden University and was a public health specialist in the United States Air Force.
She’s previously worked for both Bassett and as an epidemiologist for Delaware County Public Health.