Executive Committee 

Current Elected Officers

President – PAUL DAVID ROMAN

    • 47 volunteer years in public health. 56 years in EMS as provider and instructor.
    • 27 years, President of the Monmouth County Regional Health Commission (now Jersey Shore RHC).
    • Local Board of Health. Co-Founder and Current VP of PHACE. Retired Officer, US Army.

Executive Vice President – JOHN C. SACCENTI

    • Founding President of NJLBHA. Past President of the National Association of Local Boards of Health.
    • Current Chair of South Brunswick Advisory Boards of Health.
    • President of Career Development Institute providing specialized training in matters of Public Health.

Vice President of Membership – vacant

Vice President of Communications – JOAN VALAS

    • Past President and Founding Member of NJLBHA.
    • Current Member and Past President of Park Ridge Board of Health.
    • Policy development and writings regarding public health practice.
    • Director of Post-licensure Nursing and Professor, School of Nursing, Montclair State University.

Treasurer – STEPHEN J. PAPENBERG

    • Past President and Founding Member of NJLBHA.
    • Career in public health since 1974 as an REHS becoming a Health Officer in 1978 through retirement in 2015.
    • Work in private industry as a Regulatory Compliance Quality Assurance Officer.
    • Current Chair of Pennington Local Board of Health with service since 1992.

At Large- DR. GEORGE T. DiFERDINANDO, JR.

    • Past President Princeton Local Board of Health.
    • Former Deputy Commissioner, NJ Department of Health
    • Over 30 years with NY State Department of Health.
    • Cited at national, state, and local levels for his advocacy in various public health issues.

At Large– ROBERT UHRIK

    • Current Mayor of Rocky Hill Borough and Ex-officio Member of the Local Board of Health.
    • 40 years, REHS with South Brunswick Township Health Department. Past President of NJ
    • Environmental Health Association (NJEHA) and Current Regional VP of National EHA.

At Large -STEVE EMBER

    • Current VP and Past President of the Middlesex Board of Health serving 6 years.
    • For the past 56 years, actively involved in social justice and environmental issues as well as animal rights and protection.
    • Actively engaged in providing equitable opportunities in healthcare and education.

At Large –  JOJY CHERIYAN, MD,PhD,MPH

    • Physician and Assistant Professor at two prestigious healthcare organizations in New Jersey, with over 25 years of experience in medicine and public health.
    • Holding an MD, PhD, and MPH, he has served as a member, Vice President, and President of Bergenfield’s Board of Health. Committed to community service, he continues to advocate for public health initiatives across New Jersey. 

At Large-open
At Large-open

Past Presidents

John Saccenti
Joan Valas
Steve Papenberg
Paul David Roman
Dianna Lachman
Laura O’Reilly-Stanzilis

  • Past President of NJLBHA.
  • Registered Nurse with Master’s Degree of Management in Public Health and Public Policy.
  • Advocate for health and disabilities issues working to improve outcomes for all populations. Current Member Mount Arlington Borough Local Board of Health.

Christine Harris

  • Past President of NJLBHA during the time of the Covid Pandemic.
  • Current President of the East Orange City Local Board of Health since 2010.
  • Advocacy work has included expanding the definition and scope of boards of health including revisions to the essential services as well as improving information management and administration.

Association Counsel
        John S. Wisniewski, Attorney At Law (Must be contacted through President Roman)

Ex-Officio Members and Liaisons

Shereen Semple – Division of Local Public Health
Kevin Sumner / Margy Jahn – President, PHACE
Stephanie Gorman / Chris Hellwig, NJ Association of County and City Health Officials – NJACCHO
Lynette Medeiros / Virginia Wheatley, NJ Environmental Health Association – NJEHA
Kaitlin Cartoccio / Devanji Patel, NJ Society for Public Health Education – NJSOPHE
Donald Weinbaum / Lisa Gulla, NJ Public Health Association – NJPHA
Agatha Reidy / Ann Jones, NJ Association of Public Health Nurse Administrators – NJAPHNA

Scroll to Top