St. Charles County Department of Community
Health & The Environment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, October 28, 2004

CONTACT:
Gil Copley, Director, Department of Community Health and the Environment 636-949-7477
Julie Burkemper, Public Information Officer 636-949-7408

County Health Director Receives Prestigious Award
Gil Copley honored for his dedication to public health

St. Charles County - St. Charles County Department of Community Health and the Environment Director Gil Copley was honored with the Missouri Association of Local Public Health Agencies (MoALPHA) Annual Mentor Award at the 10 th Annual MoALPHA Conference in Branson, Missouri this month.

An important factor in sustaining a strong and effective local public health agency presence in the State of Missouri has been the vision, leadership and support provided by dedicated individuals. The MoALPHA Annual Mentor Award is intended to recognize these outstanding public health professionals who serve as role models and inspire and invigorate public health colleagues and citizens statewide.

“Gil is very deserving of this award. His knowledge of public health is extensive and he is so dedicated to public health,” said Janice Morrow, MoALPHA Chair and Director of Ripley County Public Health Department. “Gil is not only a wonderful public health director, but also a wonderful person. He always goes out of his way to help his colleagues and we are blessed to have him working in public health.”

Copley's public health career spans more that 30 years. He holds a M. A. in Health Service Management from Webster University, a B.S in Business Administration from the University of Missouri at Columbia, is certified in public health leadership, lead inspection, epidemiology and prevention and control of vaccine preventable diseases. Copley is a nationally recognized expert in childhood lead poisoning prevention and currently serves on the Governor's Lead Advisory Committee. Copley also serves as an advisor to local, state and national committees on various public health issues.

MoALPHA represents county and city public health agencies in more than 102 of Missouri's 114 counties. The association works in the interest of local public health agencies and the citizens of the counties they serve. MoALPHA seeks to promote health and wellness for Missourians. Visit MoAlpha online at www.moalpha.org.

For more information on St. Charles County Department of Community Health and the Environment visit online at www.scchealth.org or call 636-949-7400.

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