Published: July 09, 2009 10:31 am      

Dr. Nafziger named as new county health officer

The Elkhart County Health Department has a new health officer, and his name is Dr. Daniel A. Nafziger.

Nafziger, a specialist with the infectious diseases division of Goshen Health System and medical director of the Mennonite Mutual Aid Association, was recently selected by the Elkhart County Board of Health to take over the position from retiring County Health Officer Dr. Aixsa Perez.

Having served in the position since early 2002, Perez actually left the position in mid-April to pursue other interests, but was reinstated as interim health officer for a short time due to the onset of the worldwide swine flu pandemic.

According to County Health Department representative Carolyn Mast, the announcement of Nafziger’s appointment was made by current interim health officer and Elkhart County Board of Health President Dr. Max Mertz during a special meeting of the health board Thursday night.

“Dr. Mertz is actually serving as interim health officer until Dr. Nafziger takes over, because Dr. Perez has now left the area,” Mast said.

According to Mertz, Perez has chosen to continue with her medical practice in her native Puerto Rico.

“She and a group of other physicians and investors have purchased a hospital in Puerto Rico, and they’re going to run that,” Mertz said. “That’s where she’s from , so she’s getting back to where she grew up and where she was trained.”

Mertz said he expects to hand over the reins of the health officer position to Nafziger sometime in early August.