The mission of Monongalia County Health Department is to achieve a healthy community by protecting and promoting public health through education, training, advocacy and the provision of health services.

The Monongalia County Health Department (MCHD) was authorized by the Monongalia County Court in August 1929 and organized Dec. 21, 1929. Their headquarters were in the basement of the Monongalia County Courthouse. A part-time city health department existed prior to forming MCHD and existed for two years following MCHD's conception.

The offices were later moved to the Monongahela Building for two years and then to the Post Office Building. In 1938, operations moved to the southeast corner of High and Kirk streets to provide additional space for the West Virginia Public Health Training Center and local offices in the same building. The combined departments were located in an entire building at 227 Kirk St. until Oct. 4, 1944, when operations were moved into a building across the street from the original Monongalia General Hospital on Van Voorhis Road.

In February 1973, federal funding was secured through the Hill-Burton Act for the building of a new home for public health. On Sept. 13, 1975, MonongaliaCounty Public Health Center opened its doors at its present location at 453 Van Voorhis Road. Its mission was to preserve health and to prevent sickness and injury and to maintain wellness. Thirty-three individuals were on staff. Since then, Monongalia County Health Department has tripled its employees. Its mission continues to be achieving a healthy community by protecting and promoting public health through education, training, community awareness, advocacy and the provision of health services.

MCHD Dentistry Staff:Dentist Dr. Youseph Kassar, Program ManagerHygienists Roger Reed, RDH,Tiffany Summerlin, RDH, Whitney Holmes, RDH, & Brittany Pycraft, RDHDental Assistants Velvet Urgo, Stacy Croston & Taylor NewbraughOffice Manager Heather Luzier, Receptionist Ashley Efaw

Dr. Youseph Kassar, DDSjoined MCHD in July 2020.Dr. Kassar is a 2020 graduate of West Virginia University School of Dentistry. He also earned a B.S. in Biology from WVU in 2015. He graduated from Morgantown High School in 2011.Dr. Kassar grew up in Morgantown and he enjoys exploring the area and the state. He enjoys hiking and trying new places to eat. He also enjoys collecting and fixing watches. He is married to his wife, Deema, and enjoys spending time with her.

Velvet Urgo joined MCHD Dentistry in 2000. She is a dental assistant and splits her time between working in the main office and on Smile Express, our mobile dental office. Smile Express currently services area schools in six counties in north central West Virginia. The Smile Express team provides oral hygiene education and preventive care to students who otherwise would not receive it.A native of Fairmont, WV, Velvet graduated from Fairmont Senior High School in 1994. She earned a specialized associate degree in medical assisting and office technology from Webster College in Fairmont. Velvet lives in Fairmont with her husband, Derek, and son, Anthoney.

In her spare time she enjoys riding the roads of West Virginia with her husband on their Harley-Davidson motorcycle, keeping up with her two cats, Luckey and Cinders, and her basset hound, Droopy. She also enjoys staying active playing Wii Fit.

Stacy Crostonjoined MCHD Dentistry as a dental assistant in 2018 but has been a dental assistant for more than 30 years.She is a Morgantown native and graduated from University High School. She and her husband, Paul, have a daughter, Kylie, and a son, Spencer.Stacy enjoys watching her kids at their sporting events and school activities. When at home they all enjoy playing with their basset hound, Dudley.

Taylor Newbraughjoined MCHD Dentistry as a dental assistant in May of 2020.Taylor is a 2020 Clay-Battelle High School graduate and a 2020 graduate of Monongalia County Technical Education Center for dental assisting.Taylor enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, Nathan, and their puppy, Enzo, hiking, road trips, and drawing.

He and his wife, Monica, live in Wana, WV, with their three boys, Brock, Briston and Colton. In his spare time, Roger enjoys spending time with his family, hunting and attending Mountaineer Sporting events.

Tiffany Summerlin, RDHbegan working at MCHD Dentistry as the Monongalia County Oral Health Educator in 2012. In 2014, she joined us as a full-time dental hygienist. She is also the coordinator for Smile Express, our mobile dental office. Smile Express currently services area schools in six counties in north central West Virginia.

She grew up on the southern Oregon coast and made her way to the Mountain State after meeting her West Virginia native husband, Jamie. They met while stationed together in Japan during a tour of duty with the United States Marine Corps.Tiffany is a 2008 graduate of West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene.

Originally from Ohio, she graduated from West Liberty University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene.In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, traveling and spending time with her spouse and fur babies Ricky and Ollie.

Heather is a 1992 graduate of Fairmont Senior High School.She brings along 14 years of experience working in an Orthodontic office prior to joining MCHD Dentistry.She resides in BrucetonMills with her husband and their dog, Daisy.In her spare time, she enjoys camping, kayaking, and spending time outdoors.

Ashley Efawjoined MCHD Dentistry as a full-time receptionist in October 2020. She graduated from Fairmont Senior High School in 2004. She resides in Fairmont with her husband James of 10 years and their two daughters, Jaden and Hannah.In her spare time, she enjoys attending church, traveling, doing activities outdoors, and spending time with family.

She splits her time between helping at the main office and as a dental assistant on Smile Express, our mobile dental office. Smile Express currently services area schools in six counties in north central West Virginia.Rashmi graduated from dental school in India and is on her journey to get into dental school here in the U.S. She lived in New Orleans for a year before she moved to Morgantown with her husband in 2018.

This is the first time Rashmi has experienced the four seasons and she loves watching the transition from winter to spring, she says it is a marvelous experience. In her spare time, she enjoys reading books and putting jigsaw puzzles together.

The Mission of Environmental Healthis to help protect the health of the citizens of Monongalia Countyby regulating the food, water, and public spaces of Monongalia County andby providing public healtheducation to thecitizens of Monongalia Countyandto the facilities that we regulate.

Anyone who wants to attend the meeting in person should go to the front door at the upper level and walk through the temperature scanner before entering. To attend via Zoom, email Nancy.L.Lilly@wv.gov or call 304-598-5197 by 4:00 Wednesday, March 30to get a Zoom invite.