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Pa. Environmental Protection Dept. Proposes Updated Safeguards to Prevent PFAS Forever Chemicals in Biosolids From Polluting Groundwater
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, July 4 -- The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issued the following news:
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DEP Proposes Updated Safeguards to Prevent PFAS Forever Chemicals in Biosolids from Polluting Groundwater
DEP is accepting comments on revised draft permits for biosolids producers to prevent PFOS and PFOA from ending up on farm fields
Updated permits will provide needed certainty about what is in biosolids and protect crops and groundwater from forever chemicals
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The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has proposed two permit updates that will
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HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, July 4 -- The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issued the following news:
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DEP Proposes Updated Safeguards to Prevent PFAS Forever Chemicals in Biosolids from Polluting Groundwater
DEP is accepting comments on revised draft permits for biosolids producers to prevent PFOS and PFOA from ending up on farm fields
Updated permits will provide needed certainty about what is in biosolids and protect crops and groundwater from forever chemicals
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The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has proposed two permit updates that willprevent Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) "forever" chemicals in biosolids from polluting farm fields and groundwater. The updated permits introduce monitoring requirements for the first time for wastewater treatment facilities that produce biosolids for land application.
"Pennsylvania continues to lead the way in protecting residents from PFAS chemicals. Three years ago, we published the first standalone drinking water safeguards in Pennsylvania history, years ahead of the federal government, and today we are taking steps to keep forever chemicals out of our food and out of our groundwater," said DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley. "These updated permits will give the farmers of Pennsylvania peace of mind that the biosolids they use to fertilize their fields are not going to come with PFAS contamination."
"Farmers need reassurance that what they spread on their fields is safe," said Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. "This is central to public trust and to growing safe, healthy food that also protects our water resources for the future. In crafting thoughtful, intentional public policy we must consider established scientific data, coupled with public and industry perspectives to ensure our success in protecting soil, water, and food systems."
Under the updated permits, wastewater treatment facilities would have to monitor PFOS and PFOA in any biosolids they produce for land application. PFOS and PFOA are two forever chemicals that have been linked to health issues like cancer.
The permits would also require that wastewater treatment facilities with PFOS or PFOA in biosolids over a certain threshold develop a plan to reduce the amounts of the chemicals in the wastewater. The updated permits would also allow wastewater treatment facilities to accept food waste in their digesters.
DEP developed the revisions to these permits through a robust two-phase stakeholder engagement process. First, beginning in January 2025, DEP convened a 16-member Data Gathering Team to review available data and practices in other states regarding PFAS in biosolids. With the results from the Data Gathering Team in hand, DEP then formed a Biosolids Working Group to discuss proposed updates to the general permits. This group included the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association (PMAA), Pennsylvania Water Environment Association (PWEA), Mid-Atlantic Biosolids Association (MABA), the Pennsylvania Septage Management Association (PSMA), Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, PennAg Industries, PA Farm Bureau, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA), and DEP.
The draft permits are published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin (https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Home/volume). DEP will hold a 60-day comment period that will open July 4, 2026 and close at 11:59 PM on September 2, 2026. All comments will be taken into consideration. Comments may be submitted through DEP's eComment platform or by emailing ecomment@pa.gov (emailed comments must include the originator's name and address). The permits are PAG-07 (General Permit for Beneficial Use of Exceptional Quality Biosolids) and PAG-08 (General Permit for Beneficial Use of Biosolids). An additional permit for septage biosolids (PAG-09) is also available for public comment.
In January 2023 DEP finalized regulations limiting PFOS and PFOA in drinking water, the first time that Pennsylvania has ever set a drinking water standard independent of the federal government, which was still years away from implementing drinking water limits. DEP continues to investigate sources of PFAS contamination throughout Pennsylvania.
For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Website (https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dep).
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Original text here: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dep/newsroom/2026-07-02-dep-proposes-updated-safeguards-to-prevent-pfas-forever-chemicals-in-biosolids-from-polluting-groundwater
N.J. Environmental Protection Dept. Accepting Applications For 2026-2027 AmeriCorps New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors Program
TRENTON, New Jersey, July 4 -- The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued the following news release:
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DEP ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 2026-2027 AMERICORPS NEW JERSEY WATERSHED AMBASSADORS PROGRAM
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is seeking 23 recruits for its 27th year of the AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassadors Program that channels water quality awareness into stewardship actions.
Applications for the 2026-2027 program may be submitted through July 10, or until all positions are filled. The next cohort of Ambassadors begins in September.
"New Jersey's
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TRENTON, New Jersey, July 4 -- The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued the following news release:
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DEP ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 2026-2027 AMERICORPS NEW JERSEY WATERSHED AMBASSADORS PROGRAM
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is seeking 23 recruits for its 27th year of the AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassadors Program that channels water quality awareness into stewardship actions.
Applications for the 2026-2027 program may be submitted through July 10, or until all positions are filled. The next cohort of Ambassadors begins in September.
"New Jersey'sWatershed Ambassadors are an important link in helping the public understand how we protect local watersheds and preserve drinking water sources," said Acting Commissioner Ed Potosnak. "From sampling waterways to performing educational demonstrations in communities, participants help bring focus and awareness to our water sources and get in-the-field experiences that may shape their future careers in stewardship."
Watershed Ambassadors are placed at host sites in 20 Watershed Management Areas from Sussex to Cape May counties to serve local communities. For the incoming cohort, three additional full-time Ambassadors will be recruited as Source Water Protection Ambassadors in northern, central, and southern locations to do outreach and public education campaigns that help protect New Jersey drinking-water sources.
A watershed is an area of land that drains into a common body of water. A wide range of human activities such as lawn care practices, agriculture, and urbanization affect water quality in these watersheds.
"Ambassadors complement the work of the Division of Water Monitoring, Standards and Pesticide Control by delivering educational presentations and engaging the public in various stewardship trainings, which provides communities deeper and more curated engagement opportunities," said Division Director Vic Poretti. "Ambassadors contribute approximately 600 data sets of waterbody assessments conducted at freshwater streams throughout the state on an annual basis."
Watershed Ambassadors learn skills in the AmeriCorps NJ program that will be beneficial throughout their careers, and which sometimes draw them back for additional service to New Jersey.
Jamie Lubov, who served in the Mullica Watershed, starts an Environmental Sciences doctoral program at Montclair University this fall following their graduation from the AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassadors program on Wednesday, July 8. "This program connected me with so many environmental specialists throughout the state, and I met my advisor for my Ph.D. through the program," said Lubov. "Getting more involved in coastal communities was a really rewarding experience."
In the 2025-2026 program year, the program welcomed back Daniel Magda for a second term as a Team Leader. Daniel served with Raritan Headwaters Association in Far Hills, Somerset County as the Ambassador for the North and South Raritan Watersheds.
"The Watershed Ambassadors Program has allowed me to learn from so many talented environmental professionals," said Magda. "I have had the opportunity to collaborate on implementing American Eel ladders and perform water quality testing at Budd Lake, as well as partner with a local community college to lead environmental trainings. The NJWAP has truly been an amazing opportunity and experience."
Ambassadors spend 10 months in the AmeriCorps NJ program, during which they must complete 1,700 hours of service. Compensation includes an annual stipend of up to $25,000. Members may qualify for health insurance benefits while serving as an Ambassador; childcare assistance, SNAP benefits, and deferment of qualified student loans during service; and will receive extensive training throughout the program year. In addition, members are eligible to receive an education award of up to $7,395. Visit the program's recruitment page to learn more about program eligibility.
Interested applicants may apply to the AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassadors Program through the national AmeriCorps site: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/login.do. Full-time positions are available.
For more information, visit www.nj.gov/dep/wms/bears/americorps.htm and follow the AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassadors Program on Facebook and Instagram for recruitment updates.
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Original text here: https://dep.nj.gov/newsrel/26_0036/
N.H. Housing: New HUD-VASH Vouchers Awarded as Manchester's Residences at Chestnut Reaches Full Occupancy for Veterans
BEDFORD, New Hampshire, July 4 -- New Hampshire Housing issued the following news:
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New HUD-VASH Vouchers Awarded as Manchester's Residences at Chestnut Reaches Full Occupancy for Veterans
New Hampshire Housing is pleased to announce that an additional award of twelve vouchers from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has been granted to support the Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program. This award comes as the Residences at Chestnut, HUD-VASH Project-Based Vouchers (PBV), reaches full occupancy.
Located in the heart of Manchester,
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BEDFORD, New Hampshire, July 4 -- New Hampshire Housing issued the following news:
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New HUD-VASH Vouchers Awarded as Manchester's Residences at Chestnut Reaches Full Occupancy for Veterans
New Hampshire Housing is pleased to announce that an additional award of twelve vouchers from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has been granted to support the Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program. This award comes as the Residences at Chestnut, HUD-VASH Project-Based Vouchers (PBV), reaches full occupancy.
Located in the heart of Manchester,the Residences at Chestnut includes thirty PBV-VASH units funded by New Hampshire Housing. The property provides veterans with convenient access to local businesses, services, and public transportation. With the new HUD award, NH Housing now administers a total of 227 HUD-VASH vouchers, including the newly awarded twelve, facilitating stable housing for eligible veterans.
The HUD-VASH program combines rental assistance vouchers from HUD with comprehensive case management and supportive services provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). NH Housing collaborates closely with its VA partners, including the Manchester VA Medical Center (VAMC) and the White River Junction VAMC, to process referrals and allocate vouchers to ensure veterans receive safe and appropriate housing in the private rental market.
Twenty-eight eligible veterans have successfully leased units at the Residences at Chestnut, with an additional two veterans expected to lease up by July 15, achieving full occupancy of all thirty PBV-VASH units. Each veteran works with HUD-VASH case managers to develop individualized Housing Stability Plans tailored to their unique needs and goals. These plans provide essential supportive services, including assistance with understanding lease obligations, developing budgeting skills, establishing healthy boundaries, and maintaining long-term housing stability.
"We are excited to see the successful lease-up of all units at the Residences at Chestnut as we continue to support our veterans in their journey toward stable housing," said Brendan Goodwin, Managing Director of NH Housing's Assisted Housing Division. "The additional HUD vouchers will further enhance our capacity to serve those who have served our country."
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Original text here: https://www.nhhfa.org/new-hud-vash-vouchers-awarded-as-manchesters-residences-at-chestnut-reaches-full-occupancy-for-veterans/
La. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple Issues Emergency Rule for Tropical Storm Arthur
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana, July 4 -- The Louisiana Department of Insurance issued the following news release:
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Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple Issues Emergency Rule for Tropical Storm Arthur
Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple has issued an emergency rule suspending certain statutes regarding insurance cancellations, terminations, non-renewals, non-reinstatements, premium payments, claim filings and related provisions regarding all insurance matters affecting Louisiana policyholders affected by Tropical Storm Arthur.
"I issued Emergency Rule 50 to protect Louisianans whose lives have been
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BATON ROUGE, Louisiana, July 4 -- The Louisiana Department of Insurance issued the following news release:
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Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple Issues Emergency Rule for Tropical Storm Arthur
Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple has issued an emergency rule suspending certain statutes regarding insurance cancellations, terminations, non-renewals, non-reinstatements, premium payments, claim filings and related provisions regarding all insurance matters affecting Louisiana policyholders affected by Tropical Storm Arthur.
"I issued Emergency Rule 50 to protect Louisianans whose lives have beendisrupted by Tropical Storm Arthur," Commissioner Temple said. "As floodwaters recede and affected policyholders shift their focus from the disaster to the recovery phase, now is the time to issue this rule and give them more time to pay premiums without risk of insurance cancellation or non-renewal."
Governor Jeff Landry recently declared a State of Emergency for Tropical Storm Arthur affecting an area including Avoyelles, Lafourche, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, St. Landry, St. Tammany, and Terrebonne parishes. Commissioner Temple's Emergency Rule 50 applies to insureds who reside or have insured property located in those seven parishes.
Emergency Rule 50 applies to all types of insurers as set forth in R.S. 22:48 and all kinds of insurance as set forth in R.S. 22:47, including, but not limited to, property and casualty, life, and annuity insurers; health maintenance, managed care, and preferred provider organizations as well as third-party administrators acting on their behalf; pharmacy benefit managers; and health insurance issuers. Emergency Rule 50 is effective as of June 18, 2026, and will remain in effect until July 22, 2026, unless terminated earlier by the Commissioner of Insurance.
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About the Louisiana Department of Insurance: The Louisiana Department of Insurance works to improve competition in the state's insurance market while assisting individuals and businesses with the information and resources they need to be informed consumers of insurance. As a regulator, the LDI enforces the laws that provide a fair and stable marketplace and makes certain that insurers comply with the laws in place to protect policyholders. You can contact the LDI by downloading our LDIConnect mobile app on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, calling us at 800-259-5300 or visiting www.ldi.la.gov.
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Original text here: https://ldi.la.gov/news/press-releases/7-2-26-insurance-commissioner-tim-temple-issues-emergency-rule-for-tropical-storm-arthur
Hawaii Health Dept. Office of Health Care Assurance Issues NOVO to Ederlina Manzano, a Community Care Foster Family Home Operator
HONOLULU, Hawaii, July 4 -- The Hawaii Department of Health issued the following news release:
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OHCA ISSUES NOVO TO EDERLINA MANZANO, A COMMUNITY CARE FOSTER FAMILY HOME (CCFFH) OPERATOR
The Hawai'i Department of Health (DOH) Office of Health Care Assurance (OHCA) has issued a Notice of Violation and Order (NOVO) against Ederlina Manzano for serious and substantiative violations of Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) 11-800.
The DOH, through the Office of Health Care Assurance (OHCA) became aware through the Hawaii State Department of the Attorney General that Manzano "pleaded no contest
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HONOLULU, Hawaii, July 4 -- The Hawaii Department of Health issued the following news release:
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OHCA ISSUES NOVO TO EDERLINA MANZANO, A COMMUNITY CARE FOSTER FAMILY HOME (CCFFH) OPERATOR
The Hawai'i Department of Health (DOH) Office of Health Care Assurance (OHCA) has issued a Notice of Violation and Order (NOVO) against Ederlina Manzano for serious and substantiative violations of Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) 11-800.
The DOH, through the Office of Health Care Assurance (OHCA) became aware through the Hawaii State Department of the Attorney General that Manzano "pleaded no contestto the criminal charge of Endangering the Welfare of an Incompetent Person."
Manzano was ordered by the DOH to discharge all of her CCFFH clients by July 31, 2026 and close her facility.
Manzano has 20 days from the date of receipt of the order to submit a written request for a hearing, or the order will become final and enforceable after the 20-day period. The DOH Office of Health Care Assurance, State Licensing Section through Community Ties of America (CTA), certifies and regulates Community Care Foster Family Homes to ensure the health, safety and welfare of individuals residing in healthcare facilities.
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Original text here: https://health.hawaii.gov/news/newsroom/ohca-issues-novo-to-ederlina-manzano-a-community-care-foster-family-home-ccffh-operator/
Ga. Secretary of State Raffensperger Announces Primary Runoff Risk Limiting Audit Confirms Accurate Vote Count
ATLANTA, Georgia, July 4 -- The Georgia Secretary of State issued the following news:
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Raffensperger Announces Primary Runoff Risk Limiting Audit Confirms Accurate Vote Count
Beginning last Thursday, county election officials in all of Georgia's 159 counties hand counted randomly selected ballots as part of the statewide audit of the June 16th General Primary and Nonpartisan General Election Runoff. The purpose of the audit was to confirm the accuracy of the results for the Republican US Senate and Democratic Lieutenant Governor's races.
Overall, 401 batches were counted. Among the hand-counted
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ATLANTA, Georgia, July 4 -- The Georgia Secretary of State issued the following news:
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Raffensperger Announces Primary Runoff Risk Limiting Audit Confirms Accurate Vote Count
Beginning last Thursday, county election officials in all of Georgia's 159 counties hand counted randomly selected ballots as part of the statewide audit of the June 16th General Primary and Nonpartisan General Election Runoff. The purpose of the audit was to confirm the accuracy of the results for the Republican US Senate and Democratic Lieutenant Governor's races.
Overall, 401 batches were counted. Among the hand-countedresults, there was over 99.99% alignment with the machine count, which is well within the expected margin of error for hand count.
Below is a comparison of the vote totals for each candidate for the batches that were audited: [View table in the link at bottom.]
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger praised county election directors for their work.
"The Risk Limiting Audit is a vital part of election security and public trust, and a testament to the dedication of our local election officials across Georgia's 159 counties," Secretary Raffensperger said. "Our mission is to provide the public with verifiable confirmation of election outcomes, and I'm grateful to the hardworking election professionals in Georgia who continue to deliver the most trusted elections in America."
CLICK HERE (https://mcusercontent.com/bb95d9c7cf4b94c9f44421f7c/files/3bfd233a-ba7a-b94e-5f0c-a43dacbf5aae/final_audit_report_May_19_2026_General_Primary_Election_2026_06_02T2128Z.csv) for a report with audit summary data.
CLICK HERE (https://mcusercontent.com/bb95d9c7cf4b94c9f44421f7c/files/161e79a4-c41b-a0b3-f066-21b3f3ceb961/May_19_2026_General_Primary_Election_2026_06_02T2146Z_manifests.zip) for a zip file with all ballot manifests and
CLICK HERE (https://mcusercontent.com/bb95d9c7cf4b94c9f44421f7c/files/212e9ebf-d71c-817d-0a44-051c9e192b2a/May_19_2026_General_Primary_Election_2026_06_02T2148Z_candidate_totals.zip) for a zip file with all machine batch tallies. This includes all batches statewide, including those that were audited. You can confirm that these were the same batch tallies that we started the audit with by performing a SHA256 hash of the file and matching it to the tweet from Gabriel Sterling (@GabrielSterling) from 06/25/2026 at 3:58 PM.
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Georgia is recognized as a national leader in elections. It was the first state in the country to implement the trifecta of automatic voter registration, at least 17 days of early voting (which has been called the "gold standard"), and no-excuse absentee voting. Georgia continues to set records for voter turnout and election participation, seeing the largest increase in average turnout of any other state in the 2018 midterm election and record turnout in 2020, and 2022. 2022 achieved the largest single day of in-person early voting turnout in Georgia midterm history utilizing Georgia's secure, paper ballot voting system. Most recently, Georgia ranked #2 for Election Integrity by the Heritage Foundation, a top ranking for Voter Accessibility by the Center for Election Innovation & Research and tied for number one in Election Administration by the Bipartisan Policy Center.
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Original text here: https://sos.ga.gov/news/raffensperger-announces-primary-runoff-risk-limiting-audit-confirms-accurate-vote-count
Former Richmond Henrico Health District Director Takes on a New Leadership Role at the Virginia Department of Health
RICHMOND, Virginia, July 4 -- The Virginia Department of Health issued the following news release on July 2, 2026:
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Former Richmond Henrico Health District Director Takes on a New Leadership Role at the Virginia Department of Health
Today, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) announced that Elaine Perry, M.D., former director of the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) and Central Region health director, is the new Deputy Commissioner for Community Health Services. She succeeds Susan Fischer Davis, M.D., who is retiring after more than four years in the role. A board-certified
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RICHMOND, Virginia, July 4 -- The Virginia Department of Health issued the following news release on July 2, 2026:
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Former Richmond Henrico Health District Director Takes on a New Leadership Role at the Virginia Department of Health
Today, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) announced that Elaine Perry, M.D., former director of the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) and Central Region health director, is the new Deputy Commissioner for Community Health Services. She succeeds Susan Fischer Davis, M.D., who is retiring after more than four years in the role. A board-certifiedpreventive medicine physician, Dr. Perry has served as RHHD director since July 2022. In October 2024, she expanded her leadership responsibilities by also serving as Central Region health director.
Dr. Perry brings decades of experience in clinical medicine, public health leadership, pharmaceutical safety, and epidemiology to her role. Her career began in the United States Navy, where she served five years on active duty as the senior medical officer at two clinics in Maine. Following her military service, she accepted the position of health director for the Peninsula Health District in Newport News.
A native of upstate New York, Dr. Perry earned a Bachelor of Science in biology, with honors in microbiology, from Penn State University. She attended Dartmouth Medical School and Brown Medical School, graduating with academic distinction. She completed a pediatrics internship at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth before completing a residency in preventive medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where she also earned a master's degree in Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine.
Throughout her tenure at VDH, Dr. Perry has led efforts to strengthen public health infrastructure, advance disease prevention initiatives, and improve the health of communities across Central Virginia.
Dr. Perry assumed her new role as Deputy Commissioner for Community Health Services on June 25.
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Original text here: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/news/former-richmond-henrico-health-district-director-takes-on-a-new-leadership-role-at-the-virginia-department-of-health/
