Published: Tue, October 7, 2014 @ 12:00 a.m.

By William K. Alcorn

alcorn@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown District Board of Health has made Erin Bishop the health departments commissioner.

Bishop had served as acting health commissioner since February 2011. Her annual salary $71,659 remains the same as she was receiving as acting commissioner, said the Rev. Lewis Macklin, health-board president.

He said at Mondays meeting Bishop was promoted because she has been doing the job and she embraces the priorities of the board of working toward reducing infant-mortality rates and health-care disparities in the community, especially among the minority population.

Bishop, with Patricia Sweeney, is co-chairwoman of the Mahoning-Youngstown Birth Outcome Equity Team, which has identified and prioritized areas to improve the overall infant-mortality rate. Bishop also is a member of the Ohio Institute for Equity in Birth Outcomes Leadership Team representing all the Ohio Equity Institute Teams.

Bishop reported to the board the Mahoning County Health Care Coalition will meet in special session Thursday to ensure that the areas health-care organizations are prepared to deal with the Ebola virus should it strike here.

The health coalition consists of the city and county public-health departments, emergency-management agency, emergency medical services and hospitals.

Continued here:

Mahoning County Health Care Coalition to meet on Ebola