Wood County hires health commissioner

3/12/2005

BOWLING GREEN - A public health administrator from Montgomery County has been hired as Wood County health commissioner.

Jeffrey G. Cooper, 43, of Tipp City, Ohio, was given a three-year contract by the Wood County Board of Health Thursday night at an annual salary of $71,500. He and starts April 11, and replaces Larry Sorrells, who retired in December.

Mr. Cooper has been supervisor of facility management with the Combined Health District of Montgomery County since 2002 and has worked in a variety of capacities for the Dayton-based health district since 1994. Prior to that, he worked for two years as an epidemiologist with the Ohio Department of Health.

Mr. Cooper has a bachelor's degree in chemistry/biology from the University of Dayton and a master's degree in public administration/urban administration from Wright State University. "We're looking forward to his tenure," said Janet DeLong, acting health commissioner and director of nursing in Wood County.