Our Public Health Service Teams
HVHD is organized into three Public Health Service Teams.Â
Operations Team
Joe Kmetz
- Operations Team
Jennifer Luis
- Operations Team
Kariny Silva, MPH
Kariny Silva earned a BS in Health Promotion Studies from Western Connecticut State University. She also earned a Master’s in Public Health, concentrating in Global Health from the University of Bridgeport. Kariny has worked closely with her community during the COVID-19 pandemic by conducting contact tracing, educating the community on how to take proper precautions during the pandemic, and coordinating numerous COVID-19 vaccine clinics throughout the state of CT. She enjoys traveling, spending time with her family, and trying new restaurants in her free time.Â
- Operations Team
Jennifer Brellis
Jennifer brings with her more than 20 years experience in customer service and public relations.
Having graduated from Branford Hall Career Institute as a Certified Medical Biller and Coding
Specialist her background is mostly consistent with administrative billing and financial services,
holding positions in primary care, behavioral health, ambulatory surgery and specialty offices.
As a Health Client Specialist, Jennifer is empathetic and understanding to the unique health and
social issues within the community. Her other passions include cooking, refurbishing furnishings
and camping with her family.
- Operations Team
Lisha Rana
Lisha is majoring in Health Promotion and Exercise Science, with a concentration on Community Health, at Western Connecticut State University. Lisha is passionate about assisting people in the community to promote a healthy lifestyle.
- Operations Team
Megan McClintock, MS
- Operations Team
Ruth Quattro, MPH
Ruth Quattro earned a BA in Communication Studies and minors in Community Health Education and Marketing from Western Connecticut State University. She also earned Masters in Public Health, specifically in Community Health Education, from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Ruth creates education materials to distribute to the public, communicates with stakeholders about proper public health practices, identifies health related issues and creates plans to address those needs, and produces educational reports about health issues, such as COVID-19.
- Operations Team
Environmental Health Team
Joe Kmetz
Joe received his public health degree in the spring of 1993 from southern Connecticut state university and he interned at Naugatuck valley health district from January of 1993 to June of 1993. Joe working as a Registered Sanitarian for 28 years. At the end of 1993, Joe was certified in food inspections, phase 1 and phase 2 of subsurface sewage and then became a registered sanitarian in the spring of 1994.
- Environmental Health Team
Lisa Yu, MHA
- Environmental Health Team
AJ Cresci
AJ Cresci attended Brookfield High School and holds a Bachelors of Science in Recreation and Sports Management from Coastal Carolina University. He joins the HVHD as a Sanitarian primarily working with septic systems and environmental health. His duties include conducting plan reviews, septic inspections, and site visits to ensure safe and quality work is performed.
AJ is also certified to inspect daycare facilities, pools, and lead complaints.
AJ joined the Housatonic Valley Health District with previous experience from the Danbury Health Department. He was a Danbury Health Inspector where he worked in environmental health. He was also responsible for housing complaint inspections, and conducting food service inspections. During the COVID-19 pandemic he conducted emergency management training and assisted with enforcement of sector rules.
- Environmental Health Team
Community Health Team
Heidi Bettcher, RN, BSN
Heidi Bettcher earned a BS in Nursing from Western Connecticut State University and has been a practicing nurse for 20 years, specializing in pediatrics. Heidi has held various nursing positions, which include her position as a home care case manager and community health coordinator. She has worked for medical offices, hospitals, schools, and homecare nursing agencies.Â
As the Community Health Nursing Supervisor, Heidi is in charge of clinical operations, which includes overseeing vaccine clinics, manages clinical personnel, monitors infectious disease cases, establishes community relationships with local health care providers, and plans and conducts a range of community health programs and screenings.  In Heidi’s spare time, she enjoys hiking, spending time with her family, which includes four children, and traveling.
- Community Health Team
Emily Gomes, RN, BSN
- Community Health Team
Sophie Khieu, RN, BSN
Sophie Khieu has been a Registered Nurse for over 10 years. She graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing in 2011. Sophie has held numerous healthcare positions in various settings, including, hospitals, schools, homecare, medical offices, and most recently, public health. She enjoys singing, working in her garden, and traveling. She lives in New Milford with her husband, three children, and dog.
- Community Health Team
Daniel Sibio
- Community Health Team
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