Acting Governor Donald T. DiFrancesco today announced that Deputy Commissioner of Public Health Services Dr. George T. DiFerdinando, Jr. of Princeton will serve as Acting Health and Senior Services Commissioner, effective today.

"Dr. George DiFerdinando is someone I know and trust to assist me in fulfilling my commitment to the people of New Jersey to make a better life for each generation," said DiFrancesco. "And I know this because New Jersey has already benefited from Dr. DiFerdinando's own strong commitment to public health. It was he who took the lead in expanding the state's Newborn Screening system, in building upon our efforts to provide substance abuse treatment and in looking at ways to improve our current lead screening program for young children."

"The acting Governor has given me the privilege to serve him during the rest of his term and to continue expanding New Jersey's health agenda," said Dr. DiFerdinando. "In our discussions, he made it very clear that we will continue to work on improving health care for every New Jerseyan. Even in the remaining months, there is much he wants to accomplish and I look forward to meeting these challenges. As a medical doctor in public health, I am dedicated to helping all, especially our most vulnerable citizens - and so I am grateful to have this opportunity to serve in an administration where so much is being done to make a difference for everyone."

Dr. DiFerdinando was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Public Health Services for the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) in March 2000. In that capacity, he supervised the Divisions of AIDS Prevention and Control, Addiction Services and Family Health Services and the Office of Emergency Medical Services. Dr. DiFerdinando is also the department's representative on the State Board of Medical Examiners.

Prior to joining New Jersey state government, Dr. DiFerdinando served as Director for the Division of Family and Local Health for the New York State Department of Health where he managed Maternal and Child Health Services for New York State and was the liaison with all of its local public health departments. Among other responsibilities, he led New York State's efforts to control the tuberculosis epidemic and served as Medical Director for that state's Sexually Transmitted Disease Control Program.

Dr. DiFerdinando received his undergraduate degree in psychology from Oberlin College in Ohio and then went on to receive his medical degree, residency training and board certification in internal medicine, and master's degree in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was also an Epidemiology Intelligence Service Officer with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and received a National Cancer Institute fellowship to study cancer epidemiology.

Born and raised in northern New Jersey, Dr. DiFerdinando now lives in Princeton with his wife and two children.

###