Governor’s Choice To Head Health Department Prepares For Tough Tasks

Governor Matt Blunt’s nominee to head the State Health Department has worked with the Department, and now looks forward to running it from the inside. Julie Eckstein of St. Peters is president and owner of her own online information company. And, she serves as executive director of the Healthy Communities St. Charles program – working on committees dealing with such issues as alcohol and tobacco use, communicable diseases, and heart health and fitness. Eckstein knows her first big challenge will be learning the ropes. Her next challenge – making the structural changes needed to better deliver health and senior services. Eckstein’s appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.