HomePoliticsUNLV VAX MANDATE ISSUED BY NV HEALTH DIRECTOR WITH “Psychology” DEGREE Politics UNLV VAX MANDATE ISSUED BY NV HEALTH DIRECTOR WITH “Psychology” DEGREE Sept. 8, 2021 Rob Lauer Political Reporter Last month, the Nevada Department of Health, led by Director Richard Whitley, issued a CV19 vaccine mandate for all incoming Nevada University students. But when we checked Mr. Whitley’s medical credentials and that of the department leadership not one have a medical license let alone any formal medical training in the U.S.. They’re all career bureaucrats. According to the DHHS website, Director Whitley has a degree in Counseling Psychology from Western Oregon University. But one of the folks in leadership at NV Department of Health ordering tens of thousands of College Students to get vaccinated was Deputy Administrator Dr. Antonia Capurro. And her claim to fame is, being Nevada’s first Hispanic State Dental Health Officer. Yep she’s a dentist. The State’s Epidemiologist is another career bureaucrat, Melissa Peek-Bullock. The State website describes her job as “she provides technical assistance, advice and direction for disease control specialists, epidemiology staff and other health professionals throughout the state regarding disease control investigation, intervention and prevention.” But she doesn’t have a medical license or degree. In fact, she’s still in College getting her Master’s in Public Health from the University of Reno. And of course the Chief Medical Officer of Nevada, Dr. Ihsan Azzam, got his OBGYN medical degree in the old Soviet Union in 1982 from Cluj University of Medicine in Romania. Dr. Azzam doesn’t hold a medical license in Nevada either. 360 News Las Vegas served the NV Health Department with a Public Records request almost 3 weeks ago seeking their internal communications surrounding their Vaccine Mandate for all NV College Students. To date they have refused to provide them. Richard Whitley Richard Whitley was appointed Director of the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in June 2015 by then-Governor Brian Sandoval, and re-appointed to the position in 2019 by Governor Steve Sisolak. As DHHS Director, Whitley oversees the five divisions that provide both direct services and public assistance programs for Nevadans in need: Aging and Disability Services, Child and Family Services, Health Care Financing and Policy (Medicaid), Public and Behavioral Health, and Welfare and Supportive Services. The efforts of DHHS comprise nearly one-third the entire state budget. Whitley began state service as the senior psychologist for the Nevada Women’s Correctional Facility in 1986. He joined DHHS in 1997 within the Health Division’s Bureau of Disease Control and Intervention Services. Whitley held several positions within the Health Division before being asked to serve as its administrator in 2008. His responsibilities expanded in 2012 when he was asked to also serve as administrator for the Division of Mental Health and Developmental Services. The two divisions officially merged in 2013, and Whitley became the first administrator of the newly created Division of Public and Behavioral Health. Whitley holds a Bachelor’s degree from Willamette University, in Oregon, and a Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology from Western Oregon University. Dr. Antonina Capurro Deputy Administrator Dr. Capurro has spent most of her life in Nevada and is a public health advocate who is passionate about improving the health of Nevada’s vulnerable citizens. Recently, she served in the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services as Nevada’s first Hispanic State Dental Health Officer, and for almost a decade, trained the next generation of clinicians as a professor, administrator, and program developer at the UNLV School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Capurro has received numerous prestigious awards, brings collaborative ideas to life through policy work, and has designed enterprising programs that have been featured nationally. State Epidemiologist Melissa Peek-Bullock State Epidemiologist Melissa Peek-Bullock is the Nevada State Epidemiologist, which means she provides technical assistance, advice and direction for disease control specialists, epidemiology staff and other health professionals throughout the state regarding disease control investigation, intervention and prevention. Melissa served as an epidemiologist for Washoe County from 2010 to 2016, during which time she served as incident commander for a Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak that was determined to be associated with eggs; held a lead collaborative role in the multistate Hepatitis A outbreak; and served as the Influenza Surveillance Coordinator. Prior to serving as Washoe County’s epidemiologist, Melissa worked for Washoe County as a public health investigator for five years, and prior to that she worked as an emergency department clinical analyst for Renown South Meadows Medical Center in Reno. During her career, Melissa has presented at numerous conferences and spoken to the media on topics such as influenza, West Nile Virus, Ebola, hepatitis and gastrointestinal outbreaks at a casino. Melissa holds a Bachelor of Science degree in health ecology and is working to complete a Master’s in Public Health degree at the University of Nevada, Reno. Chief Medical Officer Ihsan Azzam, Ph.D, M.D. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ihsan Azzam oversees public health surveillance, epidemiology and disease control activities. He advises state and local health authorities, healthcare providers and community-based organizations, and provides professional education, guidelines, clinical updates and recommendations to prevent, control and contain disease outbreaks. Dr. Azzam represents Nevada on state and national forums, advisory bodies, and academic institutions, and he coordinates investigations and surveillance activities among state, local and federal agencies. Dr. Azzam earned his medical degree from Cluj University of Medicine in Romania in 1982 and completed his OBGYN residency in 1986. He also holds a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Graduate Certificate in Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Demography from the University of Seattle School of Public Health and Community Medicine, and a CDC Chronic Disease Epidemiology Certificate from the Penn State College of Medicine. At the University of Nevada, Reno, Dr. Azzam completed his MPH in 2002 and PhD in 2010. He has been the recipient of several awards, including the 2011 National Sheppard Award for Excellence in Epidemiology. https://dhhs.nv.gov/About/DHHS_Leadership/ https://dpbh.nv.gov/About/Executive_Team/ https://dhcfp.nv.gov/About/AdminSupport/DHCFP_Leadership/
