HOLLAND, MI.) – The Ottawa County Department of Public Health (OCDPH) announces the retirement of Deputy Health Officer Marcia Mansaray, effective May 31, 2024. Lisa Uganski, the Department’s current Health Planning and Promotion Manager will succeed Mansaray as the Department’s next Deputy Health Officer beginning June 3, 2024.
Mansaray has been Deputy Health Officer since 2020, co-leading the Department and community through the COVID-19 pandemic response, along with former Health Officer Lisa Stefanovsky. She began her tenure at OCDPH nearly twenty years ago in 2006 as a Health Promotion Specialist, chairing the Smoke-Free Ottawa Task Force, which successfully spearheaded a countywide ban on smoking in workplaces and most public places in 2008.
Mansaray went on to be a Community Health Analyst and OCDPH’s Senior Epidemiologist, using her expertise in biology and biostatistics to identify and analyze disease and other health trends and outbreaks, and leading Ottawa County’s two large health assessments – the Youth Assessment Survey and the Community Health Needs Assessment.
Prior to becoming Deputy Health Officer, Mansaray was Health Planning and Promotion Director, where she had oversight of OCDPH’s prevention programs, including health education, nutrition and wellness, oral health (including the Miles of Smiles program), and Ottawa Pathways to Better Health. In that role, she partnered with OCDPH staff, community members and organizations to develop innovative solutions to community health issues.
“I didn’t know I would feel this way when I started at OCDPH, but I have loved everything about public health. At its core, this work is filled with purpose; it fundamentally changed who I became as a person. As I retire, I will take what I learned here into a new chapter with new adventures. My biggest regret is leaving my amazing colleagues,” Mansaray said.
Lisa Uganski, OCDPH’s current Health Planning and Promotion Manager, will succeed Mansaray as Deputy Health Officer, beginning June 3, 2024.
Uganski joined OCDPH in 2000 as a Registered Dietitian and Health Educator, a position she held for 21 years. In this role, she developed and implemented prevention and education programming for a variety of health issues. She also conducted community health needs assessments to identify health issues in Ottawa County. Uganski spearheaded the development of and lead the Ottawa County Food Policy Council, which eventually became Ottawa Food in 2017, after recognizing food access as a pressing health need in the county. She is a passionate advocate for reducing health disparities in underserved communities and for health equity in all public health services.
Uganski received her bachelor’s degree in dietetics from Wayne State University and her master’s degree in public health from Des Moines University. She serves as a board member and officer for Hand 2 Hand and is a volunteer with the Community Food Club.
“I am excited about this new opportunity,” Uganski said. “I strongly believe in the value of public health to improve the quality of life for our residents and look forward to helping lead the Department’s efforts in Ottawa County.”
“Marcia has served her community with a unique blend of wisdom, empathy and grace that I have especially appreciated over the past year. I will miss her partnership and counsel,” Health Officer Adeline Hambley said. “I’m excited for Lisa to step into this role. Her knowledge, expertise and passion for serving the community will serve OCDPH well moving forward.”
The Ottawa County Department of Public Health works with our community to help assure conditions that promote and protect health. OCDPH’s vision is healthy people. Follow OCDPH on Facebook @miOttawaHealth, X @miOCDPH, or Instagram @miOCDPH.
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