About

ABOUT US

Maryland has a local health department in each of its 24 jurisdictions. Each local health department is administered by a Health Officer, who is responsible for addressing the distinct public health needs in their city or county. In addition, Maryland’s Health Officers act collectively as the Maryland Association of County Health Officers, or MACHO [pronounced MĀ-CHŌ], to carry out important statewide education, policy, and legislative initiatives.

MISSION

To promote, protect, and improve the health and well-being of all Maryland residents through an effective statewide system of local health departments

ROLES OF MACHO

LOCAL

  • To learn from fellow Health Officers and offer professional support by sharing ideas and information, providing inter-county comparisons, and benchmarking best practices

STATE

  • To represent local health issues to state government, agencies, and organizations, including the Maryland Department of Health, the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo), the Maryland General Assembly, and advocacy organizations
  • To advocate, as one voice, for local health issues within the state

NATIONAL

  • To work with the National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO) to advocate for and support of local health issues
  • To represent local public health issues to other national organizations and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) when approved by the membership

KEY FUNCTIONS

ADVOCACY

To advocate for local health needs at the state and federal level

PROTECTION

To protect the health and safety of the public in any public health threat or crisis

EDUCATION

To promote public health education and healthful lifestyles

ELIMINATION OF DISPARITIES

To identify and eliminate economic, racial, and ethnic disparities in health status

COLLABORATION

To collaborate with public health providers at the local, state, and federal level to design and implement effective public health policy

LEGISLATION

To draft and support public health legislation that benefits the health and well-being of the residents of Maryland

MEMBERS

OFFICERS

Maura Rossman, MD

President
Health Officer
Howard County
8930 Stanford Blvd.
Columbia, MD 21045
Phone: 410.313.6363
Fax: 410.313.6303
Email Maura Rossman
Website

Edwin Singer, L.E.H.S.

Vice President
Health Officer
Carroll County
290 South Center Street
Westminster, MD 21157
Phone: 410.876.4974
Fax: 410.876.4988
Email Edwin Singer
Website

Roger L. Harrell, MHA

Secretary/Treasurer
Health Officer
Dorchester County
3 Cedar Street
Cambridge, MD 21613
Phone: 410.228.3223
Fax: 410.901.8194
Email Roger L. Harrell
Website

Meenakshi Brewster, MD, MPH

Immediate Past President
Health Officer
St. Mary’s County
21580 Peabody Street
POB 316
Leonardtown, MD 20650
Phone: 301.475.4330
Fax: 301.475.4350
Email Meenakshi Brewster
Website

MEMBERS

Jenelle Mayer, MPH

Health Officer
Allegany County
12501 Willowbrook Road SE
POB 1745
Cumberland, MD 21502
Phone: 301.759.5012
Fax: 301.777.5674
Email Jenelle Mayer
Website

Nilesh Kalyanaraman, MD

Health Officer
Anne Arundel County
3 Harry S Truman Parkway
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: 410.222.7375
Fax: 410.222.4436
Email Nilesh Kalyanaraman
Website

Letitia Dzirasa, MD

Health Commissioner
Baltimore City
1001 E. Fayette Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: 410.396.4387
Fax: 443.558.6710
Email Letitia Dzirasa
Website

Gregory Wm. Branch, MD, MBA, CPE

Health Officer & Director, Department of Health & Human Services
Baltimore County
6401 York Road. 3rd Floor
Baltimore, MD 21212-2130
Phone: 410.887.2773
Fax: 410.377.9646
Email Gregory Wm. Branch
Website

Laurence Polsky, M.D.

Health Officer
Calvert County
975 Solomons Island Road North
POB 980
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
Phone: 410.535.5400
Fax: 410.535.5285
Email Laurence Polsky
Website

ROGER L. HARRELL, MHA

Acting Health Officer
Caroline County
403 S. 7th Street
POB 10
Denton, MD 21629
Phone: 410.479.8030
Fax: 410.479.0554
Email Roger L. Harrell
Website

Lauren Levy, JD, MPH

Health Officer
Cecil County
401 Bow Street
Elkton, MD 21921
Phone: 410.996.5115
Fax: 410.996.5179
Email Lauren Levy
Website

Suzan C. Lowry, MD, FAAP

Health Officer
Charles County
4545 Crain Highway
POB 1050
White Plains, MD 20695-1050
Phone: 301.609.6900
Fax: 301.934.0848
Email Susan Lowry
Website

Barbara Brookmyer, MD, MPH

Health Officer
Frederick County
350 Montevue Lane
Frederick, MD 21702
Phone: 301.600.3104
Fax: 301.600.3111
Email Barbara Brookmyer
Website

Robert Stephens, MS

Health Officer
Garrett County
1025 Memorial Drive
Oakland, MD 21550
Phone: 301.334.7777
Fax: 301.334.7701
Email Robert Stephens
Website

MEMBERS, CONTINUED

Russell Moy, MD

Health Officer
Harford County
120 S. Hays Street
POB 797
Bel Air, MD 21014-0797
Phone: 410.877.1010
Fax: 410.420.3446
Email Russell Moy
Website

William Webb

Health Officer
Kent County
125 S. Lynchburg Street
PO Box 359
Chestertown, MD 21620
Phone: 410.778.2409
Fax: 410.778.6119
Email William Webb
Website

Ruth Maiorana

Executive Director
MD Association of County Health Officers
615 N. Wolfe Street, Room E 2530
Baltimore, MD 21205
Phone: 410.614.6891
Fax: 410.614.7642
Email Ruth Maiorana

Travis A. Gayles, M.D., Ph.D.

Health Officer
Montgomery County
401 Hungerford Drive, 5th Floor
Rockville, MD 20850
Phone: 240.777.1741
Fax: 240.777.7771
Email Travis A. Gayles
Website

Joseph Ciotola, MD

Health Officer
Queen Anne’s County
206 N. Commerce Street
Centreville, MD 21617-1118
Phone: 410.758.2281 x349
Fax: 410.758.6602
Email Joseph Ciotola
Website

Lori Brewster, MS, APRN/BC, LCADC

Health Officer
Somerset County
7920 Crisfield Highway
Westover, MD 21817
Phone: 410.543.6976
Fax: 410.651.3189
Email Lori Brewster
Website

Fredia Wadley, MD

Health Officer
Talbot County
100 S. Hanson Street
Easton, MD 21601
Phone: 410.819.5608
Fax: 410.819.4703
Email Fredia Wadley
Website

Earl E. Stoner, MPH

Health Officer
Washington County
1302 Pennsylvania Avenue
Hagerstown, MD 21742
Phone: 240.313.3260
Fax: 240.313.3303
Email Earl E. Stoner
Website

Lori Brewster, MS, APRN/BC, LCADC

Health Officer
Wicomico County
108 E. Main Street
Salisbury, MD 21801-4994
Phone: 410.543.6976
Fax: 410.543.6975
Email Lori Brewster
Website

Rebecca Jones, RN, MSN

Health Officer
Worcester County
6040 Public Landing Road
POB 249
Snow Hill, MD 21863
Phone: 410.632.1100 x1209
Fax: 410.632.1119
Email Rebecca Jones
Website

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Ruth Maiorana

Ruth is MACHO’s first Executive Director, and she has served the association in this capacity since 2007. She has extensive experience at the local health department level as well as with the state health department and other health-related non-profits. As Executive Director of MACHO, Ruth is responsible for the work of the association, including legislation and policy, fiscal assessment, analysis, program development, social media outreach, evaluation, planning, and other critical projects. She also serves as MACHO’s liaison to Maryland state agencies, JHBSPH, stakeholders, and community groups.