New West Hartford official ready to face next public health disaster

WEST HARTFORD, CT — If the chaotic and tragic events of the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 happen again, West Hartford has a new local leader ready to tackle the problem.

The West Hartford Office of Emergency Management and the West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District recently announced the appointment of Melissa Marquis as Medical Resiliency Coordinator.

Marquis, a registered nurse with a master’s degree, started work on July 1.

West Hartford officials said “the newly created position underscores the city’s commitment to strengthening preparedness efforts in response to lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing demands for disaster planning.”

Job responsibilities include:

• Act as a liaison between the West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District and the Office of Emergency Management.
• Help improve medical resilience and preparedness for West Hartford residents.
• Conduct awareness-raising and training activities in medical preparation for stakeholders and residents.
• Create accessible patient preparedness information through presentations and training sessions.
• Addressing health equity and diversity in emergency operations plans.
• Coordinate the activation of an emergency operations center in the event of public health and medical issues.

Marquis brings a wealth of experience as a public health emergency response specialist at the West Hartford Bloomfield Health District, where she was instrumental in various COVID-19 response initiatives alongside the West Hartford Fire Department and Office of Emergency Management.

His contributions included setting up vaccination clinics, distributing personal protective equipment and administering vaccines to vulnerable populations.

Greg Priest, West Hartford Fire Chief and Director of Emergency Management, said, “The appointment of Melissa Marquis reinforces our commitment to improving community resilience. Her expertise will be invaluable in ensuring we are able to effectively address public health challenges.”

Aimee Krauss, Director of the West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District, added, “The West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District is excited to expand our partnership with the West Hartford Office of Emergency Management. This collaboration will allow both agencies to better respond to future events and keep our community safe.”