[Archived] Alexandria Environmental Health Specialist Named Health Professional of the Year

City Press Release


	City of Alexandria, Virginia Office of the City Manager Alexandria City Hall 301 King Street, Suite 3500 Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3211 www.alexandriava.gov Telephone: 703.838.4300 Fax : 703.838.6343

ALEXANDRIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST
NAMED VIRGINIA ENVIRNMENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Elizabeth "Libby" Busenlehner, an Environmental Health Specialist with the Alexandria Health Department, has been named Virginia's Environmental Health Professional of the Year. At the annual meeting of the Virginia Environmental Health Association in Manassas, Ms. Busenlehner was honored by her colleagues for her bioterrorism surveillance work after the anthrax outbreak last fall and for her exceptional work in environmental health.

Since last fall's anthrax outbreak, Ms. Busenlehner has worked as part of a multi-disciplinary team at the Alexandria Health Department that reviews local hospital admission records on a daily basis for any indications that there may have been another bioterrorist attack. Ms. Busenlehner also coordinated the post-9/11 revision of the Alexandria Health Department's emergency operations plan and has played a major role in investigating several foodborne disease outbreaks associated with restaurants.

Ms. Busenlehner has also been instrumental in increasing the Health Department's data management capability through implementation of a new database system. Over the next two years, Ms. Busenlehner will coordinate a comprehensive community environmental health assessment for the City of Alexandria.

The Virginia Environmental Health Association is the professional association for Virginia environmental health professionals from both the private sector and state, federal, and local governments. Bill Perry, Past-President of the Virginia Environmental Health Association, said, "I can't think of anyone more deserving of this award. Libby's dedication to the environmental health profession is unequaled and I congratulate her."

Dr. Charles Konigsberg, Jr., Health Director for the City of Alexandria, commended Ms. Busenlehner for her work. "Ms. Busenlehner represents a fine example of the modern public health professional. We are very fortunate to have her on our staff here in Alexandria," he said.

Earlier this year, Ms. Busenlehner was also named Environmental Health Specialist of the Year by the Virginia Department of Health. Bob Custard, Environmental Health Manager for the City of Alexandria, said, "Ms. Busenlehner is one of the finest environmental health professionals in Virginia. We are extremely proud that Libby continues to be recognized by her peers."

Ms. Busenlehner is a 1987 Biology graduate of George Mason University and a resident of the Ashburn area of Loudoun County.