(PDF)
PATRICIA DILLON, M.D., M.P.H.
MEDICAL DIRECTOR
BUREAU OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND DISEASE CONTROL
DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH
SUFFOLK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES
The Bureau of Epidemiology and Disease Control plays a central role in the Suffolk County Department of Health Services mission to prevent disease and the spread of communicable disease. It is responsible for enforcing those sections of the NYS Public Health Law and the State Sanitary Codes, which require all County health departments to maintain a system for surveillance and control of over 60 communicable diseases reportable to New York State. This is an impressive task in a County with a population of 1.4 million persons covering 1,000 square miles of the eastern two-thirds of Long Island.
As Medical Director of the Bureau of Epidemiology and Disease Control, Dr. Dillon is in charge of the daily operations of the bureau including disease surveillance and control activities, active surveillance and mass vaccination programs. Dr. Dillon heads the Division's Rabies Prevention and Control program. Working with the police department and public health sanitarian staff, she ensures that all suspect rabies cases in animals are investigated within 24 hours as required by New York State Law. Dr. Dillon also makes all decisions affecting potential exposure to humans, determines need for medical intervention, and when necessary administers post-exposure treatment. Dr. Dillon supervises the nursing staff and clerical staff of the bureau. She also trains and supervises residents engaged in their public health rotation. In addition, she provides medical consultations to local hospitals, physicians, school personnel, press, and the general public on public health matters. In the event of an outbreak, Dr. Dillon leads charge of the epidemiological investigation. Most recently Dr. Dillon has assisted the Suffolk County Police/Hazmat unit responding to suspected bioterroism events and developed protocol for investigator health protection, specimen identification and handling.