Delaware County’s new health department now has an epidemiologist, Dr. Victor Alos Rullan, and will have a main office at the county’s Wellness Center in Yeadon, writes Kathleen E. Carey for the Daily Times.

On Wednesday, Delaware County Council hired Dr. Rullan, a 20-year resident of Garnet Valley, with extensive public health experience.

It also unanimously OK’d a $1.25 million contract to convert the Wellness Center.

Dr. Rullan, 70, has worked as an analyst for U.S. Health and Human Services and has been a public health consultant since 2008.

He has done COVID work for Chester and Montgomery Counties and Philadelphia, including contact tracing for the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

In his new role, he will monitor diseases in the county, like COVID or sexually transmitted diseases, and create plans to reduce the spread and negative impact of disease.

“The major role is to improve the health of the community but also the quality of life,” Rullan said.

A public hearing and second reading to approve the new health department will occur at a later council meeting, possibly as early as Oct. 20, before a final vote is taken.

Read more at the Daily Times about Dr. Victor Alos Rullan.