ITHACA -- Frank Kruppa, Tompkins County’s public health commissioner for 14 years, will resign effective Feb. 7 to take a position with Cayuga Health, the county and the health organization announced Thursday.
County Administrator Lisa Holmes announced that Jeremy Porter, fiscal administrator of Tompkins County Whole Health, will serve as the interim commissioner.
Kruppa served as the county’s first Health Commissioner overseeing the public health and mental health services, integrating two departments in 2022 to create Tompkins County Whole Health. He led the county’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizing mass vaccination clinics and collaborating with other organizations. Kruppa’s tenure also includes developing the mental health/law enforcement co-response CARE Team.
“Frank helped lead the county through some of the most difficult times in our history during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Holmes said in a release. “His professionalism, vision for the integrated department, knowledge and commitment to the residents of Tompkins County is commendable. We are pleased that Frank will continue to serve the community through his new role and look forward to our continued partnership.”
Kruppa joined the Tompkins County Health Department in 2011 and served under three county administrators.
He begins in March as assistant vice president of community program development and partner integration with Cayuga Health, the organization announced. He will aid in creating a federally qualified health center for clinically underserved communities in Ithaca and Elmira, and will help with Cayuga Health’s Crisis Stabilization Center project, which is set to launch around the end of 2025 or early in 2026.
“Cayuga Health is fortunate to have Frank joining our team,” stated Jeff Penoyer, vice president of ambulatory services and chief operating officer of Cayuga Medical Associates. “Frank has been a valued partner to Cayuga Health for many years and is a proven advocate for our community. His in-depth knowledge of public, mental and behavioral health operations will add valuable insight as Cayuga Health enhances the services we provide to some of our most vulnerable patients.”
Kruppa graduated from Binghamton University, has a master of public health from the University of Albany and a master of public administration from the University of Central Florida.
