The Commission designated Thomas Quade to serve as Acting Director of Health, effective April 1. Quade has been with the Department since April, 2000 as Epidemiologist, Health Promotion Manager, Manager of Community Health Assessment and Health Promotion, and as Deputy Director of Health for Administration.

The Akron Health Commission is committed to providing quality public health services to Akron residents. It recognizes any change in leadership presents an opportunity to rethink how services are delivered to the community. The commission welcomes all Summit County based public health agencies to work together to explore improved ways to best serve the public, especially in challenging economic times. Merger of two or more of the health districts in Summit County has been considered several times in recent decades. The Commission will partner with Mayor Plusquellic and other community leaders and public health stakeholders to examine if a merger of health districts or continuation of the current collaborative relationships among the districts is the best way to advance and improve the health of the people of Akron and Summit County.

Quade, 43, has worked in public health with the World Health Organization and the United States Peace Corps. He holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from Yale University and is certified in public health (CPH) by the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE). Quade is the current President of the Ohio Public Health Association and has held national leadership positions with the American Public Health Association (APHA) and the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO).

Dr. Moser joined the Akron Health Department in June of 2003, and has also served as a member of the faculty of the Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy (NEOUCOM/P) and has held positions of leadership in a number of local organizations working to advance community health, including the Summit Portage Area Health Education Center, the Summa Health System Community Health Advisory Committee, Summit County Family and Children First Council, and the Healthy Connections Network.

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