Orange County has named an interim health director while searching for a permanent replacement.

Dr. Dorothy Cilenti has been chosen to fill that role, which will be her second stint as interim director.

Cilenti is on faculty at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health in the Department of Maternal and Child Health. She also previously served as the NC Local Public Health Agency Accredication Administrator at the NC Institute of Public Health, according to a release announcing the hire.

Cilenti also has served as the health director for Chatham and Alamance counties.

“My main goal is to keep the health department operating as it is so a new health director can walk into a well-functioning department,” says Dr. Cilenti of her role with the health department.

The Orange County Board of Health is reviewing application and will begin the interview process in mid-March, according to officials.

Dr. Colleen Bridger recently left the department to take the same position in San Antonio, Texas.

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