Career path pointed to Whiteside County: New health department administrator says job is a perfect fit

ROCK FALLS – Cheryl Lee has a diverse background in public health. She sees her new job as Whiteside County Health Department administrator as the perfect opportunity to fully utilize everything she has learned.

When Philip Jass resigned from the position Aug. 28, after only 5 months on the job, his successor already was in the building.

Lee, 51, had been brought on in July to work with Jass and former Administrator Beth Fiorini, primarily to assist on the complex grant-writing duties.

“When Phil came on, he wanted help writing the big grants, and the board knew the job might take two people,” Fiorini said. “When the administrator’s job opened up again, the board said Cheryl would be perfect.”

Lee worked for the Illinois Department of Public Health for about a decade, and then spent 4 years at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, where she started a cancer outreach program. Then it was on to the Clinton County Health Department, where she was administrator for 5 years.

Through her work at the state health department, Lee was somewhat familiar with the Whiteside County Health Department.

“I had heard that they had a great health department, a great staff and clinic and were run well – Beth has a great reputation,” Lee said.

After growing up in the suburban Glen Ellyn area, Lee also thought it would be nice to be back in this part of the state. The thought of working in a larger health department with a clinic also was appealing.

“I had been in a state setting, a small health department and a hospital, so when this position came open, I thought it was the perfect place to bring everything in my skill set together.”

Fiorini has stayed on to help with the leadership transition, first with Jass and now with Lee. She also wanted to make sure the federally funded clinic will be on track to receive a new 3-year Health Resources and Services Administration grant – its primary funding source.

Both women say the transition has been a smooth one. Their working relationship has been so good that Fiorini plans to stay on indefinitely in an as-needed role.

“I’m thinking I’ll be available for maybe 10 hours a week to help with special projects or grant work,” Fiorini said.

The stage has been set for a long-term project that will be one of Lee’s top priorities: The health department recently bought the former Mill’s Auto Body property on 12th Avenue.

“We’re still figuring out what to do with it, but we definitely need the space,” Lee said. “We’ll just have to wait for the money we need to do the project.”

Lee also is excited about a new dental service that should be available in January. A suite is being remodeled to accommodate wheelchair users. Now, if they want to have the work done without leaving the wheelchairs, they must go to Chicago.

Like Fiorini, Lee will continue to carefully monitor needs in the community and evolve accordingly. That means keeping a close eye on substance abuse issues, and bringing therapists to where they are most needed, including schools and jails.

The accolades have continued to come in for Fiorini. On Oct. 18, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Illinois Primary Health Care Association. The award is given to leaders in the community health centers movement who have removed barriers in providing health care to underserved populations.

Fiorini also received a letter of thanks from Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

GET TO KNOW CHERYL LEE

Position: Whiteside County health administrator

Age: 51

First official day: Saturday, Nov. 16

Hometown: Born in Michigan, lived in several states, but spent junior high and high school in suburban Glen Ellyn.

Education: Bachelor's degree in business administration from Monmouth College; master's degree in community health from Western Illinois University.

Lives in: Rock Falls

Family: Four children – a fifth-grader, seventh-grader, a high school sophomore and senior

Interests: Spending time with family, work, church, yoga, bicycling and music

OPEN HOUSE

After 29 years on the job, former Whiteside County Health Department Administrator Beth Fiorini might finally feel officially retired Monday, when an open house to celebrate her many years of service to the health department will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. at Forest Inn, 20657 Lincoln Road in Morrison.

All are invited to come and thank her for her years of service.